AONs are not just for broadband transport, but for access to the home or business. Once fiber optic cable reaches a neighborhood, all other forms of wired communications will be rendered obsolete. These fat, unencumbered optical pipelines can deliver more information faster and more reliably than anyone ever dared imagine. Furthermore, optical networks will open new revenue-generating opportunities for service providers. Speed is just one of many reasons today's DWDM technology is suitable for regional metro networks.
Speed is expensive.
One way to lower cost is to select components that offer slower throughput with broader bandwidth. While that approach can reduce capital expenditure up front, it may limit tomorrow's migration path. Applying long-haul DWDM technology to metro networks will not work because the applications are different. A MAN provides wavelengths for service delivery instead of long-range signal transport. In a MAN, the signal travels a much shorter distance and requires no signal regeneration or repeater amplification.