Continued advancements in optical technology promise continued change as the optical network evolves to the ultimate goal of end-to-end wavelength services.

The impact of the new optical layer in the telecommunications network is astounding. It can be measured in two ways—economic impact and carriers' ability to offer new services. Optical-layer technology will increase network capacity, allowing network providers to transport more than 40 times the traffic on the same fiber infrastructure. That will ultimately lead to lower prices, and competition in the local exchange (as a result of the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996) will ensure that bandwidth becomes more affordable.

Consumers will have access to new high-bandwidth services made possible by the increased capacity afforded by the optical layer. Services that today are considered prohibitively expensive, such videoconferencing to the desktop (or home), electronic commerce, and high-speed video imaging, will become commonplace because they will be technologically and economically feasible.

In essence, optical-layer technology will improve the way we live.