I think you're all correct.
But, each of you is stating a different piece of the pie is
the whole pie. That I do not agree.
Yes, equipment is "designed" to last a long time.
Dealing with a customer on FITs issues for a product will tell
anyone that. Contractual negotiations with a well known RBOC
just last year demanded a minimum of 150,000 hours. That's
17.1233 years to be precise. The negotiation directly
impacted the hardware to be redesigned to meet that criteria.
Yes, technologies are changing. Some are being obsoleted.
Case in point is T-2. That was a flash in the pan. But,
that is old news. Information transportation is in a state
of high flux. This requires new hardware. But, the RBOCs
are slow to act due to cost and interrealtion of technologies.
Why be the first one on the block with a new toy when you
could be the only one on the block with the new toy? Case in
point, fiber optics spelled the doom of the copper net. Yet,
this market is not moving as fast as the sales boys want it
to move. Why? The fiber has to be installed. It's like buying
the car but paying for a road to be built to drive it.
Not very many are eager to do that. And different services?
As I said above, why be a service provider when you're the
only one that has it?
Do not forget these people are in *severe* competition with
one another. If I break the path for a new technology,
I've just incurred the cost of development for my competitor
as well. The suits up on mahogany row don't like that unless
they are in for a big benefits:cost ratio. Yes, alot of
bottom line stuff is going on - the almighty BuckaRoo.
But, this is also old news.
Yes, changing standards will impact everything. And heartache
is almost inevitable until this settles down. And this, I
think, for all of us is also old news.
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The comments and opinions stated herein are mine alone,
and do not reflect those of my employer.
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