Case Studies

IDC Frontier Inc. operates large-scale data centers across Japan and provides high-quality data center solutions, including network security and operational monitoring, as well as cloud computing and storage services.
This time, we spoke with Mr.Kakurai, from the Engineering Group of the Network Construction Department in the company’s Network Headquarters, about the background and benefits of implementing B³ Spectrum.

Why did IDCF selet B³ Spectrum service?

Prompted by the closing of a data center that had been the hub of their intra-Tokyo transmission ring, the company needed a full review of their Tokyo backbone network starting in spring 2018. Kakurai said the following about their reasons for adopting B³ Spectrum for the new network.

(1) Reduced operation workload on transimission equipment

Simplifying network operations was solution to the issue they wanted solved the most, in rebuilding their network. Conventional transmission equipment is all-in-one, incorporating everything from the transponder to ROADM and MUX/DEMUX, with the equipment itself a black box that can be difficult to understand. Furthermore, operational management tools are usually manufacturer-made, meaning operational skills take time to acquire and operational loads are always high.

Then IDCF got the proposal for B³ Spectrum.

"B³ Spectrum can break down a DWDM system into functional units, so we could leave operation of the DWDM system and dark fiber to B3 as transmission professionals. We thought that would reduce our operating load." Kakurai explains.

(2) Low-cost, high-quality broadband service

Next up were cost issues. With Internet traffic eternally on the rise, procuring transmission equipment and dark fiber internally would be the conventional means of reinforcing capacity while keeping costs down. However, that also means managing an increasing number of operational devices internally, raising operational loads by the day.

At the same time, although procuring dedicated lines from communication carriers does not increase internal operational loads, it does increase costs proportionally to traffic increases. The customer adopted B³ Spectrum as a solution to that dilemma.

"Adopting a new service like B³ Spectrum posed new challenges even for us, but it was a solution to the operational load and cost dilemmas, so we were glad to take those on. B³ Spectrum quality is as high as a private leased line service or dark fiber, and we thought the ability to upgrade for affordable costs while still maintaining conventional quality was a decisive point in regard to building our network."

Effects

Low-cost broadband network became a reality.
Flexibility to change the capacity of use as needed is also a major advantage.

Adopting B³ Spectrum reduced their operational load limited to just transponders, a major cut from in the past. Furthermore, the bandwidth used can be changed as needed with transponders the company selects, allowing them to set the modulation method/transmission speed at the highest rate in the Tokyo ring and use 16QAM/200 Gbps per wavelength. A conventional private leased line does not offer a 200 Gbps option, making this a good cost/performance ratio.

"I feel the main benefits of B³ Spectrum are - The ability to customize it to the bandwidth we want to use and to get the most out of the existing resource" Kakurai explains.