1. TF-MSP Meeting 9 November 2010 From a leased capacity to a dark fiber BELNET network Lessons learned Dirk Haex

2.  BELNET before and after 2008  BELNET & Dark Fiber: lessons learned  … concerning fiber providers  … concerning housing locations  … concerning threats/risks  … concerning operations  … concerning IRU contracts and legal aspects  BELNET & Dark Fiber: our advice Agenda

3. BELNET before 2008

4. BELNET after 2008

5.  … concerning fiber providers  Fast fiber degradation  Attenuation and margin in the ring(s)  Fiberproviders and subcontracting  Number of fiber providers  Advantages / disadvantages BELNET & Dark Fiber Lessons learned

6.  … concerning housing locations  BELNET PoPs: more facilities needed  Power + no-break  Space  Cooling  24/7 Access  “Professional” datacenters  What’s in a name… BELNET & Dark Fiber Lessons learned

7.  … concerning threats/risks  Take over of fiber provider during IRU…  Large fiber rings and fiber cuts  Profound analyse of fiber routes  Redundancy is key!  Double fiber entrance (PoP’s)  The future of “fiber as a service”? BELNET & Dark Fiber Lessons learned

8.  … concerning Engineering & Operations  Extension of the fiber network  within the ring  Cross Border Fibers  Documentation is key!  Scheduled maintenance  Analyse impact  Fiber and optical expertise within NREN BELNET & Dark Fiber Lessons learned

9.  … concerning IRU contracts and legal aspects  Fiber specifications, SLA  Penalties  IRU template  Experience with upfront payment and service BELNET & Dark Fiber Lessons learned

10.  … if we should rebuild the fiber network  2 fiberpairs per ring  Detailed fiber maps at street level  all using the same dataformat  Fiber specifications clearly defined and penalties included  Internal cabling: Include ODF losses in end to end fiber attenuation BELNET & Dark Fiber Our advice

11.  … if we should rebuild the fiber network  as little providers as possible  1 connector type – APC BELNET & Dark Fiber Our advice

12.  … a fiber network gives you:  … flexibility  … Unlimited “bandwidth”  … fast upgrades (extra wavelengths)  …. More services  … BELNET & Dark Fiber To conclude

13. Questions?