Dark Fiber

Check out this article about using dark fiber to enable low cost metropolitan area networks. By using wavelength division multiplexing, non-proprietary administrative tools and scalable equipment XKL is able to decrease the financial burden many companies are exposed to. Optical fiber is expensive to lay and many in the industry are forced to learn (adopt) a proprietary protocol. Of course, the specialists that operate these systems are usually paid quite well.

Applications are moving to open standards and so should network communications protocols. Why should companies be forced to adopt a specific standard? Vendor lock-in was a concept widespread during the dot-com era. We have learned our lesson and should be moving toward open standards. It works with applications and should also work with network administration.