Making interconnection agreements between networks more dynamic

[kmedcalf at dessus.com (Keith Medcalf)]

> > This sounds something like the MEF Third Network type stuff.... I mean
> > the ability to setup connection dynamically across network boundaries
> > on-the-fly, via an ordering system... that has always sounded awesome
> > to me... and I've wondered how we could actually get there one day.
 
> to me, this was the dream of optical switching and gmpls (which is not
> mpls)

And, pray tell, what is the use of me setting up "peering" between myself and a network on the other side of the world when the data still has to flow over the same connections, merely encapsulated inside a tunnel?  Reminds me of the old days when you could directly connect "Chicago" to "Denver" using a direct connection over a PVC that was routed Chicago -> New York -> Miami -> Los Angeles -> Denver.  Sure, it looks like a direct connection, but ...

Or will this magical interface also deploy robots to build the physical layer?