While many businesses are enjoying the advantages of 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet, bandwidth capabilities are increasing exponentially. 100 Gbps wavelength service is now available on the West Coast, a thousandfold increase over standard 100 Mbps Ethernet. What necessitates such high bandwidth, and where can it be obtained?

The factors driving the demand for 100 Gbps bandwidth are the same ones that make 100 Mbps nearly entry-level. Many smaller businesses struggle with their outdated T1 lines, which operate at a slow 1.5 Mbps in today’s online environment. A speed of 10 to 15 Mbps is necessary for basic productivity.

Beyond email, web browsing, inventory management, and customer support, 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet becomes essential. Video streaming, large data transfers, and cloud computing all contribute to increased line capacity. The mass migration of businesses to the cloud is the primary driver of the demand for 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 GigE, and now 100 Gig Wavelength.

How does the cloud affect this? Shifting IT operations to the cloud fundamentally alters network needs. The traditional Ethernet model assumes that all devices are connected to a wired local network (LAN). The WAN connection merely facilitates external communication.

This model sufficed for most businesses before cloud-based services became prevalent. Even mid-sized companies could function with T1 lines and DS3 bandwidth because most traffic remained internal. Only communication with remote locations, branches, and some external entities required WAN access.

This was necessary because, prior to deregulation, telecom services were prohibitively expensive. The rise of the internet was fueled in part by the availability of affordable bandwidth. It also made it more cost-effective to relocate data centers to colocation facilities. The transition to the cloud is a natural progression once servers are moved off-site.

Essentially, the cloud is a collection of massive data centers with vendor-provided infrastructure and software. Instead of investing in IT, businesses can rent resources and pay per user, usage, or a monthly fee. This eliminates capital expenses, lengthy upgrade cycles, and the need for 24/7 IT staff.

The main challenge is the shift in bandwidth requirements from LAN to WAN. Because all processing and data are stored in the cloud, all traffic is routed through the WAN. Any file transfer or process must go through the WAN.

Companies that overlooked this shift are now scrambling for higher bandwidth at affordable prices. A sluggish WAN connection results in decreased productivity and financial losses.

Fortunately, due to rising demand and the emergence of new fiber optic networks, the cost of high-performance bandwidth is decreasing. There is a race to connect every building with fiber and ensure sufficient network capacity to avoid congestion. Zayo enters the picture here.

Zayo is a leading global provider of bandwidth infrastructure services, with extensive fiber optic capacity. It provides 100 Gbps Wavelength services not just to carriers but also to businesses. Their initial deployment is along the West Coast’s tech corridor, from Seattle to Los Angeles. The most recent additions connect Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Modesto, and Los Angeles with 100 Gbps add/drop service. A similar network exists on the East Coast, connecting New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., as well as a Chicago route connecting the East and West coasts.

Unless you are a content provider, ISP, cloud provider, large corporation, government agency, or organization handling massive amounts of data, you probably don’t need 100 Gbps Wavelength service. However, higher bandwidths are on the horizon, and fiber is now affordable for most businesses.

If you’re feeling limited by your existing WAN bandwidth, now is an excellent time to compare prices for high-speed copper and fiber connectivity. You might be surprised by the new services available and how much prices have dropped.

Note: Photo of high speed traffic courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Note: Photo of high speed traffic courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.