Business News – Wholesalers Ride the Wavelengths

Posted: 07/2000

Wholesalers Ride the Wavelengths
By Khali Henderson

In the past nine months, several prominent wholesalers have rolled out optical wavelength services for their carrier customers. Broadwing Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadwing Inc.
(www.broadwing.com), and Level 3 Communications Inc.
(www.level3.com) are the latest to unveil a wholesale wavelength service. These come on the heels of a launch by Global Crossing Ltd.’s
(www.globalcrossing.com) Carrier Services Division. Williams Communications Group Inc.
(www.williamscommunications.com) debuted its Optical Wave Service
in October.

Wavelength services use DWDM technology to increase the number of different wavelengths (frequencies of infrared light) a single strand of existing fiber can carry. This process, in effect, transforms one fiber into multiple “virtual” fibers. Carriers say wavelength services offer an alternative to private line and dark fiber transport services with the benefits of reduced costs, expanded market coverage and decreased time to market.

“Our Global Wavelength service can be deployed quickly, and in many situations, offer greater bandwidth flexibility and efficiency than other transmission options,” says Melodie Reagan, senior vice president of Global Transport Services for Level 3. “As a result, ISPs, carriers and other high-bandwidth customers can enjoy significant cost, time to market and bandwidth management advantages.”

Anthony Palma, vice president of carrier product marketing at Global Crossing, explains that “optical wavelengths are an extremely flexible and versatile solution for carriers that need to complete a SONET ring, or that want to quickly gain access to markets where capacity requirements just don’t justify a dark fiber investment.”

Optical wavelengths also may provide a diverse route from existing networks or an interim solution while dark fiber routes are being planned or constructed.

The first phase of Level 3’s intercity wavelength service is available immediately between Texas cities of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Level 3 plans to roll out subsequent phases of wavelength service that will connect more than 60 U.S. and European markets. Customers can purchase long-haul capacity between markets at either 2.5gbps (OC-48) or 10gbps (OC-192) wavelengths.

Global Crossing’s optical wavelength service is available in major cities throughout its North American Crossing network at OC-48 speeds. It plans to expand to OC-192 later this year.

The old-timer of the group, Williams, is offering OC-48 wavelengths with plans for OC-192 in the fourth quarter. It already has contracts that were announced in the spring with several carriers for its Optical Wave Services, including eTech Global Communications LLC
(www.etechglobal.net) and Intermedia Communications Inc.
(www.intermedia.com).