Sale of Individual Wavelengths

As technologies mature and manufacturing costs decrease, technologies initially used only by carriers become cost effective for enterprises. The sale of individual wavelengths is an example. Providers now offer individual wavelengths of fiber-optic capacity to customers at speeds of, for example, 1.5, 2.5 and 10 gigabits per second. One application for wavelengths is disaster recovery for between two to five sites. If one site fails, the other sites will still be in service for functions such as call centers and financial transactions. Enterprises also use individual wavelengths for connections to data centers and SANs in the same metro area.

Because access to LD (Long Distance) networks often represents up to 40% of customers' LD costs, providers with fiber to large enterprises now offer individual wavelengths from enterprises to their LD provider. The enterprise leases the fiber and is able to send Ethernet or optical carrier (OC) type traffic to its LD provider. If fiber is available, this is often a less-costly option than purchasing access from incumbent telephone companies.

In addition, service providers used wavelengths between their metro fiber ring and the customer to provide Ethernet service. Because of distance limitations in the hundreds of kilofeet, wavelength service is a metro area service.