Let’s have fun with letters-descramble DWDM GMPLS ROADM WIMAX. The answer? US of G, as Google rumors continue to circulate about a nation united by cutting edge fiber optic technology that could make the Internet as accessible and free as radio.
I hate to be overly dramatic, but this is exciting. It’s not every day you see history happen. About this time last century, Guglielmo Marconi was demonstrating the wonders of radio. Over the next 10-20 years, radio became a staple of society, rapidly adopted, enjoyed and marveled at. At the time, the biggest obstacle was what to call it-radio or wireless.
“What’s the difference between wireless and radio? There ain’t none’ — both refer to the exact same thing,” writes Thomas H. White.
Today it’s Senr Googlielmo as Google triumvirate Sergey Brin, Larry Page, and Eric Schmidt are reported to be taking bids on building a nationwide fiber optic network-an endeavor that IP Media Monitor says could be finished within 3 months for as low as $100 million.
$100 million? That’s nose-wiping money to Google, especially since they’re squatting on over $7 billion in cash after auctioning off a second public stock offering. The most expensive part of the project isn’t setting up the network, but delivering to end users, a WiMAX (potentially) transmission network that IPMediaMonitor estimates to cost around $3 billion-a cost definitely within Google’s means.
What’s more is the network would be far ahead of most technologically, bringing together three optical advancements, the likes of which are only seen from Sprint-Nextel, AT&T, and MCI.
Here’s a list of those technologies, as outlined by IP Media:
DWDM: Dense wavelength division multiplexing-exponentially expands fiber network capacity pumping 10 gigabits per second over thousands of data channels.
GMPLS: Generalized Multiprotocol label switching-speeds up network and prevents websites from crashing when they get sudden bursts of traffic.
ROADM: Reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer-allows remote reconfiguring of capacity so that when networks are upgraded, data can be seamlessly redirected while specific areas are down.
“You have so much bandwidth available you could even have the data go up to Seattle, make a hairpin turn, then change frequencies and send it off to Dallas,” technology analyst Peter Macauley of Reston, VA-based East by North, Inc. told IP Media.
So what happens after this is set up? The world changes and communications companies are forced to restructure everything. It has, in part, begun already. San Francisco is already enjoying WiFi hotspots sponsored by Google’s Secure Access. Bay area residents can download the free service and commence to surfing.
The new network could be used for services like VoIP and Internet TV accessible by hubs within the home receiving programs and services with locally targeted advertising, much like TV and radio today.
“Let’s just say I am a golf resort marketer. Incoming calls placed to my number via Google Talk could show Google AdWords for my resort, for golf clubs, for area attractions,” imagines ZDNet’s Russell Shaw.
Industry insider OM Malik has own ideas, as does Murdok’ David Utter.
“E-paper goes up on billboards, on buses, on buildings far removed from Times Square or Tokyo. Via its wireless network, Google can deliver targeted advertising tailored to zip codes, or even streets, within a city, tuned to specific times and days,” writes Utter.
And that is really unbelievably cool-unless GoogleNet becomes SkyNet and we’re all obliterated by self-aware robots who decide the human race is actually a virus.
