Re: [Swprograms] Fiber optics, bandwidth, and cloud computing (was: Re: OT: Future of Digital Radio)

[Joe Buch <josephbuch@xxxxxxxxx>]

Richard,

A good analogy of the fibre-optic technology for data volume and rate efficiency improvement (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) for folks who understand AM and SW radio is to think of multiple LASERs, each on a different optical wavelengths like the carriers on a radio dial.  Each LASER carrier is separately modulated.  The efficiency is obtained by staggering the LASER wavelengths to not overlap modulation sidebands just like AM radio stations are spaced to prevent sidebands from overlapping.  (IBOC and DRM excepted of course.)  The fibre-optic medium propagates the signals simultaneously without interference just as the "ether" of old is capable of propagating multiple radio frequencies without crosstalk.  (Luxembourg effect excepted of course.)

I remember you dealing with the economics of the chemical industry.  Are you now a product of the internet bubble? 8^)

Joe

--- On Tue, 6/2/09, Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Swprograms] Fiber optics, bandwidth, and cloud computing (was: Re:   OT: Future of Digital Radio)
> To: rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx
> Cc: "Shortwave programming discussion" <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009, 10:36 AM
> However, the capability of fiber
> networks to add bandwidth is
> significant, because the effective capacity of fiber to
> carry
> bandwidth has increased dramatically since that fiber was
> put in the
> ground / in the water.  Primary reason for this, best
> as I know, is
> that we can distinguish between narrow wavelength
> differences of light
> that is transmitted along the fiber -- smaller differences
> than were
> capable when we first laid the fiber down.  The
> principle is Dense
> Wavelength Division Multiplexing -- or DWDM.
> 
> As a result, there remains a significant inventory of "dark
> fiber"
> available.  This is cable that was put in the ground,
> but never "lit
> up" to carry data traffic.
> 
> As a result, while bandwidth isn't unlimited, we have,
> collectively, a
> huge capacity to add traffic ("bandwidth") to the cable
> that is
> already in place because the capacity of the fiber to carry
> traffic
> has magically grown.  There is a very active
> "aftermarket" for this
> dark fiber among investors, speculators and telco firms.
> 
> Google, for example, has been buying up dark fiber in order
> to
> establish super-high-speed, private connections between
> their data
> centers in order for them to offer "cloud computing"
> delivered
> applications.
> 
> Now, look at the technologies being used to bring this
> bandwidth
> closer to home.  Companies have been developing many
> clever ways to
> send high-speed traffic down copper wires, which have
> enabled most of
> us to install high-speed Internet connectivity to our homes
> while
> using the same copper wire that was originally envisioned
> solely for
> analog voice and video traffic.  So it costs less for
> Verizon to
> implement FIOS than it was initially envisioned.
> 
> You've happened to wander into a technology and market
> space that I
> study for a living...
> 
> Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 10:26 PM, Rob de Santos <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> > The analysis by Cringely is a fascinating one but I
> see several weaknesses in
> > his argument.
> >
> > First, bandwidth is not unlimited and cannot increase
> by 50% per year for very
> > long.  Physics tells us that either you make the pipe
> bigger or eventually you
> > will run out of room.  Making bigger pipes is very
> expensive.
> 
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