When it comes to underlying network needs, "VoIP is really a different animal," says Dennison. And current attempts at solving the demand for IP-based stability, such as the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), aren't cutting it.
"If you're running VoIP, you want to have an ultrareliable network," says Dennison. "That's definitely where some of this 'hidden innovation' is going on. There's a pent-up demand for reliability [from customers] that wasn't there before."
Since it's a maturing market, Dennison doesn't see a wide opportunity for start-ups in the core routing arena--certainly not like it was just several years ago.
"The table stakes have kind of risen," says Dennison, who sees a future with no more than three core router vendors in the market. "Just having the basic protocol stack is something that's difficult to replicate," he says. "A single idea no longer makes it."
Of course, start-ups can also address some of the new demands on the core network, a point Dennison admits is part of his job at Avici.
Discover the benefits of scalable backbone and network services for application and cloud providers.
Network automation is gaining momentum. Here's how you can drive this powerful technology to its full potential.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
