Interest in low-latency networks has exploded, thanks in large part to the rise of algorithmic trading in the financial community. But what causes latency in optical networks, and how can you avoid it?
Any strategy to create a low latency network must consider at least four points:
- the optical fiber
- the optical network elements
- the line rate
- the distance that needs to be traveled
As carriers consider each of these elements when designing a low latency optical network, the interrelationships among them become clear -- as does the fact that removing a latency-inducing element in one part of the optical network may force you to add one somewhere else.
To learn more about low-latency optical network strategies, read “Breaking the barriers to low latency” by Editorial Director Stephen Hardy in the June 2010 issue of Lightwave.
