“Within the metro will be the need to install, test, and reconfigure all types of equipment with the same fundamental operational procedures and principles used in large, carrier-class networks historically. Any other approach is inherently risky.” | Creating a Foundation for Profitability Strategies for Operational Efficiency at the Metro Edge white paper Within the metro will be the need to install test and reconfigure all types of equipment with the same fundamental operational procedures and principles used in large carrier-class networks historically. Any other approach is inherently risky. Michael Day CTO Today service providers are challenged to satisfy cost-conscious yet broadband-savvy customers demanding high network reliability and feature-rich service offerings all at economical prices. To meet this challenge service providers must strive to be efficient reliable and scalable while rolling out new revenue-generating services. With capital expense under scrutiny most service providers are finding an evolutionary approach to be the most viable strategy for maximizing the value of embedded equipment while migrating to next-generation services. As a result legacy platforms such as SONET SDH and DWDM originally optimized for traditional circuit-switched voice services now are leveraged to handle a wide array of data services. Yet as new services such as bandwidth-on-demand IP VPN and others gain popularity service providers are building the metro to more efficiently carry these new as well as legacy services. As a result the number of fibers and network elements in the metro is multiplying and connectivity is playing an increasingly critical role as a foundation for operational efficiency and ultimately profitability. Given the variety of services and technologies deployed in the metro no single technology will likely prevail as a sole platform so multiple technologies will co-exist. Traditional circuit-switched platforms will share the central office and remote terminal with new packet-switched platforms. The network will continually evolve to accommodate new services and technologies. The key to managing this ever-changing and increasingly complex network architecture is to install flexibility in the .
