Slow light to speed things up.

[MasterRacker]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7557280.stm

So, how soon before we see some of this in practical use?

_____
Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[Sympology]

Pointless.....

Until the last mile is converted to fibre instead of corroded copper (or even worse, aluminium, looking at you BT!). This wonderful technology will be wasted.


Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[jimbojimbo]

I think you missed the point. This is core routing technology that has nothing really to do with the "last mile". Just as Iridium doping dramaticaly altered long haul fiber, the concept of an optical switch would significantly impact the size of core routers and potentially reduce the capital costs for the ISP's (unless John Chambers has something to say about it). By eliminating the optical to electrical conversions power consumption would drop to almost nothing (good for a green initiative). From the consumer perspective the last mile is the significant issue. Don't expect existing neighborhood retrofits with fiber any time soon. Business Parks yes but I would expect heafty fees for individual offices or homes.

Jimbo

 

[philhege]

Jimbo,

Check this out. We're getting there. The rates are, well, hefty compared to other technologies, but you get what you pay for. Some of the bundled teaser rates start at around US$90.

Phil H.
Some Bank
-----------
Time's fun when you're having flies.

 

[Sympology]

Most Core routers are not massivley pushed these day, granted it will mean smaller and less power hungry devices (so less cooling bills), but the last mile is important to the home as well. The worse the copper the worse the noise on the line, so more retransmits, collisions, lost packets.
If they clean this up, the routers will have less work to do anyway.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Grenage]

Aren't most NTL/Virgin media ends fibre?

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer