Otherwise, a carrier could configure too many partially populated shelves, driving up space requirements and equipment costs. Space itself is costly and, therefore, a major concern for any carrier. Finally, carriers should look for high reliability and long life. Downtime and repairs can be expensive, both in personnel costs and customer satisfaction. And premature replacement of failed equipment is even worse.
Manufacturers test their products and reveal their product quality in the warranty they offer.
The Bottom Line Power is never a no-brainer. The good news is that the path around the pitfalls is clearly marked. Service providers should look for standards and certifications such as NEBS 3 and ISO 9001. They should ask about lead times, not just for standard products but for special configurations. Carriers need to closely consider cost but not just product cost.