Why Fiber Optics?
Depending on your definition of "broadband," you can argue that many technologies are capable of providing it. Eventually, the choice of a technology comes down to the telecommunications needs and requirements of a communityñnot just today, but for many years into the future. Bandwidth needs to increase exponentially, and the "little broadband" of today will never suffice for tomorrow's business and quality of life demands.
From the standpoint of bandwidth alone, nothing can compare to fiber. In fact, the only thing limiting fiberís capacity is scientists' ability to break the spectrum of light into finer detail. However, CBN Connect is not focused exclusively on broadband connectivity: the real goals of CBN Connect go far beyond connection speeds. These include:
Open access for multiple providers
Any infrastructure that does not support multiple competing service providers over a single network is unacceptable. Open access and competition lie at the heart of the CBN Connect mission.
Scalability
The infrastructure MUST scale to support an ever increasing number of subscribers AND to deliver higher bandwidth to satisfy increased demand.
Security
If telecom providers are to provide service to businesses, government institutions, medical facilities, and other organizations with highly sensitive data via this the network, there must be an extremely high level of inherent security in the system. While individual users are still responsible for data encryption and protection, the network itself must preclude theft of signal.
Carrier class
The network must provide world-class reliability and protection from downtime, interference, transmission fading and interruptions.
While numerous other technologies can accommodate some of these goals, the only one that satisfies them all is fiber optics. That, coupled with the fact that on a cost per Mbps basis fiber is the least expensive technology, makes fiber the obvious choice.
What is the danger of fiber becoming obsolete
in a few years?
Fiber will not become obsolete. The glass fibers that carry pulses of light have virtually infinite capacity: a single strand of fiber transmitting multiple frequencies of light could conceivably carry all the phone traffic for the entire planet. With new technologies being developed, the capacity is almost unimaginable.
Copper wire, which has clearly understood limitations, yet it has served as the main medium for telecommunications for over 100 years. Limitations of fiber have not yet been discovered. Fiber optics will enable new technologies such as high-speed wireless services for decades to come.
The electronics initially used to send signals across the CBN Connect will likely become obsolete at some period of time in the same way your home computer becomes obsolete: it continues to function; it simply is overtaken by new technologies. Since these electronics are "boxes" connected to the ends of the fiber, it is a simple matter to disconnect them and replace them with new "boxes." Old equipment will be re-purposed for use in areas of less demand, and new equipment will be purchased to satisfy increasing network demands.
