BCR reviewed today's sessions and posted them on their web site. It makes for good reading.

Clearly there continues to be a struggle among carriers to deal with the economics of the new millennium. Going back to points made yesterday, US carriers are still hanging on to voice-centric networks with some adaption to data. What will it take to change? Who knows. As long as carriers perceive that the way to make money is to protect the current network, change will be slow.

I think the carriers want to make the change, but seeing how to maneuver from voice revenues making up 70% of the bottom line to a data model, that's the trick. Made especially more difficult if VC and other investment capital is difficult (or impossible) to get.

WiMAX

Perhaps I haven't been paying attention. It wouldn't be the first time. But 802.16 is getting a lot of play at this conference. A google search on 802.16 yields some interesting reading. So, there is a working group, publishing their first standard document in spring 2002. There is a whole list of manufacturers signed on to move 802.16a ahead. There just aren't any products commercially available right now. The first WiMAX products should be on shelves in mid 2004.

Next Generation Networks?

It's pretty clear that there continues to be strong innovation in networks. That's good. But it is also clear (at least to me) that the next leaps ahead in networking must come in network management. Management and security are the new (how ironic) horizons for networking. Hmmmm, round and round we go.........
8:18:04 PM    comment []