Whats the challenge in merging service provider networks?
When carriers merge, they typically have different networks. Networks are like snowflakes–every one of them is different. Each CTO has different design philosophy–they may have more of a distributed intelligence predilection or a centralized control preference. They are all different that way. Every network has a different set of equipment that is being used. No matter how many standards are around–and most carriers will buy only if the products are standards-based–every product is different. There are different limitations in every product set. Even if you had an Alcatel-based optical network in two carriers that are merging, there is still some work to do to be able to manage those systems, to provision them, to connect up. So what’s the starting point? They have to look at what they’ve got. One is usually bigger, so the question is, should we make everything look like the bigger company? In every merger, carriers look at each other and say, “What is the best approach?” It is alw
