* Some history before getting into network-based services
In the beginning, there was the telephony network. And the telephony network existed even before analog – let alone digital – computers existed. Then, once we had computers, we invented the need for remote access to computing functions. Then this remote access morphed to real-time access.
Since the telephony network already existed, it was only natural that “data communications” became “data over telephony” communications – at least in the beginning.
But then, roughly in the late 1970s to mid-1980s, the world started to get really complex as the need for data communications started presenting a serious rivalry to voice communications. And, to put it bluntly, the telephony network providers came up two all-beef-patties shy of a Big Mac on this one. By this time, major corporations had decided it was more economical to “BYOB” (Be Your Own Bell) than to live with the services offered by the phone companies.
The “Networked T-1 Multiplexer” phenomenon was an excellent case in point. In the mid-1980s, corporations were purchasing customer premises equipment that allowed them to take advantage of the 1.544M-bit/sec (T-1) circuits that were already in place for digital telephony. But there was a problem: If a T-1 circuit failed, it could take hours – even days – for the phone company to restore service.
However, the networked multiplexers could detect these outages and reroute onto an alternate circuit in a matter of a few seconds – sometimes even faster. This, more than any other single circumstance, helped craft the great chasm between the “data guys” and the telephone company. The message was clear: If you wanted high-quality service above basic bit transport, you had to do it for yourself. (Of course, as a minor defense of the phone companies, the situation was exacerbated by the fact that the phone companies had to spend 10 years in court after 1984 trying to figure out what they were and were not allowed to provide as services. But that’s another story.)
Had the phone companies offered a service with very fast reroute of T-1 circuits, the problem would have been solved where it should have been – in the network – and companies such as Timeplex, N.E.T. and Newbridge never would have dominated the networking scene for the better part of 10 years. But this service was not offered in a timely fashion, and we’re left with a huge credibility gap to fill – convincing the data networking professional that the service providers can provide enhanced services that you’re willing to bet your job on.
Next issue: Getting into network-based services – a reality check.
