Technology has one universal truth: the closer one gets to the end user, the more diverse and complex the network becomes. In the world of optical networking, this statement is equally true. At the network s edge, the local loop must support multiple access technologies and multiple standards, including SONET, SDH, frame relay, ATM, and IP. In response, companies have emerged that focus on the creation of wide spectrum network management systems that not only handle multiple protocols and services, but are flexible, scalable, single-seat systems that reside at the periphery of the network, close to the customer, rather than in the shadowy recesses of the central office. These systems will support the simultaneous provisioning of broadband voice and data applications, and will help to realize the true promise of convergence.

So will fiber ever reach the home or small office? Absolutely. However, certain caveats must first be satisfied, such as the cost of optoelectronics, the dearth of optical interfaces on consumer equipment, network limitations, and regulatory issues. In the meantime, alternative solutions have emerged with varying degrees of success, such as Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) architectures that take advantage of in-place, fully functional wiring schemes. HFC is considered to be a relatively low-cost solution for extending the reach of fiber. In the last few years, however, a number of fiber-to-the-home projects have been initiated worldwide, providing optical local loop connectivity to more than 300 million potential lines.

Metropolitan access is characterized by the deployment...