oadband networks was due largely to the growing use of the Internet by enterprises for daily functions and remote access by employees. Consumers increased their Internet access for activities such as reaching friends via social media, shopping, and reading newspapers. In the next decade, traf- fic on broadband networks will again grow dramatically as consumers and businesses increasingly adopt cloud-based services, including streaming movies and television programs, storing music, and accessing office productivity applications. Carrier Networks This rise in dependence on networks for access to files and applications makes it imperative that carriers continue upgrading networks and planning for future growth. Organizations and consumers take the availability of adequate capacity on broadband networks for granted. These consumers assume that when they add additional applica- tions and content to cloud-based services, they will have access to the network when they need it. However, providing consistent availability and capacity takes enormous exper- tise and vast investments by carriers that manage and upgrade networks. Departments tasked with selecting new infrastructure need to understand new protocols and evalu- ate new types of infrastructure. Installation and maintenance staffs require training in understanding the new capabilities and in programming and monitoring the equip- ment. These upgrades require enormous investments in equipment, software, training, and staffing. However, profits at carriers are under pressure because of competition for par- ticular services. Rates that carriers charge for transmission on their core, backbone networks have dropped due to competition on these routes. This pressure on profits is particularly acute for wholesale carriers that sell long-haul routes to carriers without facilities on particular routes. For wholesale carriers, the ability to keep costs as low possible to earn adequate returns on their investments is critical. Although rates for transmission on middle-mile and