Making the most of OC-192 broadband requires that you understand the purpose of this level of Internet service. OC-192 lines are currently the most common connection used for the backbones of large Internet Service Providers (ISPs). OC-192 transport equipment is also able to handle a variation of 10 gigabit Ethernet called WAN-PHY.

OC-192 stands for Optical Carrier 192 with the number specifying the multiplier of the base rate of carrier level, which is 51.84 million bits per second (Mbit/s). The speed of an OC-192 fiber optic network conforms to the Synchronous Optical Networks (SONET) standard. There are three additional methods of describing the OC-192 carrier service:

1. Synchronous Transport Module (STM-64); This is a multiple of the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) fiber optic network transmission standard STM-1 which has a bit rate of 155.52 Mbit/s.
2. Synchronous Transport Signal (STS-192); This is a multiple of the basic unit of measure STS-1 used by SONET.
3. A network line that carries data at a maximum rate of up to 9953.28 Mbit/s; A maximum of 9621.504 Mbit/s for an OC192 connection may be payload.
   

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Learn technical information about OC192 broadband technologies

There is a great deal of technical information available on transmission protocols. A thorough understanding of the technology involved will aid in your search for a service provider for your business. It is especially important to know the relative transmission speeds of these different technologies.

I recommend: ComBase Communications provides a bandwidth chart to allow a comparison of various communication methods including OC-192. Learn more about OC192 network speeds at Zytrax.com.

Access data sheets for equipment used by OC-192 service providers to create WAN connections for ISPs

Service providers frequently need OC-192 equipment to incrementally expand existing infrastructures in a cost-effective manner. These units should have features that will allow diverse deployment options that include DS1, Ethernet and optical services delivery to their subscribers.

I recommend: Spirent Communications provides a knowledge center that contains data sheets on its OC-192 equipment. Learn more using data sheets for a variety of products that serve OC-192 markets at Allayer Communications.

Look for current news that informs OC-192 providers about increasing T-1 lines

ISPs frequently resell their telecommunications capacity to their subscribers in the form of T-1 service. Many websites keep regular blogs and posts that offer helpful news and information about OC-192 equipment and ISPs.

I recommend: Read articles on a variety of networking topics, including OC-192 technology, at Network World. Telephony Online offers several articles about how businesses benefit from service providers offering OC-192 transmission speeds.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many OC192 service providers offer this level of broadband service in burstable or fractional rates. A burstable line has a minimum transmission speed although the exact throughput is variable. Fractional service is a fixed percentage of the full rate.

OC192 broadband is the 192nd Optical Carrier (OC) level carried on a Synchronous Optical NETworking (SONET) fiber optic network. The OC level is directly proportional to the data rate of the digital signal with each level representing approximately 51.84 million bits per second (Mbps). OC192 speed is therefore 9953.28 Mbps of which 9621.504 Mbps is payload and 331.776 Mbps is overhead (including the path overhead).

An OC192 line may also be referred to as a 10G SONET or Synchronous Transport Module 64 (STM-64) line, which is 64 times faster than the basic transmission rate of the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication (ITU-T) standard. SONET SDH is currently the standard for optical telecommunications and will probably provide the data transmission infrastructure for telecommunications until at least the year 2030.

OC192 lines and 10 gigabit Ethernet are the fastest connections that are commonly available on the Internet and usually form the backbone for large ISPs. WAN-PHY is a standardized version of 10 gigabit Ethernet that is compatible with OC-192 equipment while another version, called LAN-PHY is not. Despite the name, Wide Area Networks (WANs) can use both types.

In order to obtain OC-192 service you will need to:

1. Obtain quotes from multiple providers on customized OC-192 service packages.

2. Locate the available flat rates on standardized OC-192 service packages.

3. Find any ongoing discounts or specials on OC-192 services in your area.

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Look for broadband oc from a carrier with nationwide partners

These carriers are able to offer businesses high speed connections that are flexible and scalable. They provide direct access to the Internet for content and broadband providers.

I recommend: Go to ntt.net to review the types of Ethernet services available from this nationally known OC192 Internet provider. They offer Ethernet connections from 1 to 10 Gbps.

Lower your costs on optical carrier services

10 Gigibit Ethernet service is frequently used to provide high bandwidth fiber optic services to carriers looking to extend their existing Ethernet LANs.

I recommend: Get OC-192 service from a business like Gigapackets. They are a website publisher and an authorized agent for ShopForT1.com which represents tier 1 suppliers.

Take advantage of current discounts when planning to purchase OC192 services

Many OC192 providers list their discounts on a centralized site, which should be familiar with the telecommunications market and provide free quotes.

I recommend: Look at the current specials at broadband.com. They offer OC-192 service from a variety of carriers and have a best price guarantee. Their solutions specialists can provide a comprehensive analysis of your Ethernet needs with no obligation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  OC192 service is frequently leased in fractional amounts and burst modes. The rate on burstable OC192 can be highly variable so you need to determine the lowest allowable speed when considering this type of OC192 service.
• •  OC192 service is generally very expensive and dedicated optical fiber is priced per mile. This pricing model provides great incentive for your business to consolidate data and voice services.

OC-192 broadband basics include the fact that Optical Carrier (OC) levels are a range of signals carried on a Synchronous Optical NETworking (SONET) network. The number 192 indicates that this speed is 192 times faster than the data rate of the bit stream carried by the signal.

Optical Carrier 192 is also known as Synchronous Transport Module 64 (STM-64) or 10G SONET. SONET Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) is currently the standard for optical telecommunications and OC-192 lines are currently the fastest connections that are commonly available. In order to learn more about OC-192 service you will need to know the following:

1. The OC-1 rate is 51.84 million bits per second (Mbps) so the rate of an OC192 connection is 9953.28 Mbps with 9621.504 Mbps being payload.
2. The common version of 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) is called LAN-PHY and is not compatible with OC-192 equipment although a variation of 10GbE called WAN-PHY is designed to work on OC-192 equipment. Both variants can be used on a Wide Area Network, so the names can be misleading.
3. The most common use of OC-192 connections is for backbones of large Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
   

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Learn more about OC192 connections

The technology comprising telecommunications can be extremely complex and uses many terms that may be unfamiliar to business professionals. There are many white pages available, in addition to articles that provide valuable information about OC-192 connections.

I recommend: Cisco offers various white papers on networking technology that include information on upgrading to OC-192 service. Learn more about Internet technology and brush up on key OC-192 broadband terminology by downloading articles at Intel.

Measure the actual speed of OC-192 connections

The rated speed of an Internet connection is the theoretical maximum speed the connection can achieve. There are many reasons for an OC-192 connection to have a throughput less than 9953.28 Mbps including latency, loss of signal and bit stream errors.

I recommend: The University of Michigan provides a Java-based tool that can test the actual speed of an OC-192 connection. Learn more about OC-connections and access valuable resources, including a speed test, at Bandwidth.com.

Select OC-192 providers

These carriers should be able to offer stable and reliable connections for businesses that are competitively priced. OC-192 service providers may also offer a range of actual throughput speeds that users can expect to achieve.

I recommend: Internet Bandwidth has a variety of resources to help you choose an OC-192 ISP. Research articles on current networking news to assist you in selecting an OC-192 provider at CommunicationsNews.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Users can obtain their choice of OC-192 equipment independently of the OC192 service provider. SONET allows interconnection between network providers regardless of the brand of equipment, so the provider can purchase equipment from one vendor and interface with equipment from another vendor.

OC-192 broadband is most commonly used as a backbone for large Internet service providers. It has transmission speeds of almost 10Gbps (gigabits per second), or 10,000 MBps (megabits per second). It is transmitted exclusively on optical fiber. OC192 can be called 10GB SONET or STM-64. There are two common Ethernet standards that compete with OC-192: WAN-PHY and LAN-PHY. WAN-PHY is compatible with OC-192 equipment, but LAN-PHY is not. These three standards are the fastest available on the Internet.

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Optical carrier

Optical carrier levels are a way to describe the digital hierarchy in a SONET fiber optic network. The levels are OC-1, OC-3, OC-6, OC-9, OC-12, OC-18, OC-24, OC-36, OC-48, OC-96 and OC-192. There are a couple theoretical levels beyond that which haven't been implemented. You can calculate the speed of an optical carrier line by multiplying the level number by 51.8 MBit/s.

I recommend: Learn about optical carrier services at GigaPackets.

Synchronous optical network (SONET)

SONET is a physical layer specification that describes dual-ring optical networks for long distance and metropolitan applications. It establishes the OC levels, from 1 to 192, and enabled carrier networks throughout the world to connect their existing digital carrier and fiber optic systems. SONET is also called SDH by the International Telecommunication Union or ITU.

I recommend: Read the SONET FAQ at SONET.com.

Synchronous transport module (STM)

A synchronous transport module, or STM, is the basic transport frame on an SDH or SONET network. STM-1 has a speed of 155MBps. STMs can be simultaneously transmitted, or multiplexed, to create faster STMs up to and including STM-64, which is used in OC-192 broadband.

I recommend: Use the data transfer calculator at Unitconversion.org to convert from megabits per second to STM-64, or OC-192.

Synchronous transport signal (STS)

STS is the standard for data transmission over SONET. OC-192 can also be called STS-192. STS-1 is the basic rate.

I recommend: Learn more about STS and other aspects of SONET at the International Engineering Consortium.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The International Telecommunication Union, or ITU, is the United Nations agency that deals with communication and information technology. Over the last 145 years, they have had their hands in everything from the global sharing of the radio spectrum to international cooperation in satellite placement. The ITU-T deals with telecommunications standards or recommendations.

I recommend: Read all about the ITU-T at the official ITU website.

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)

The SDH, or Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, is the international version of the SONET standard, published by the ITU. Both define synchronous data transmission over fiber optic networks.

I recommend: Read more about SDH vs. SONET at TechFest.