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DESCI 4463

WEEKLY REVIEW 6

SUMMARY

Two companies recently announced solutions to provide fast Internet connections over existing copper wire. The first, 3dSL from Networks Inc. of Canada Ontario, promises speeds up to 4 Mbps by combining ATM with asychronous DSL service. Newbridge intends to build the head-end DSL access multiplexer directly into an ATM switch and use ATM virtual circuits combined with IP multicast to deliver traffic more efficiently. The second, VDSL (very-high-data-rate DSL) from Paris-based Alcatel, promises speeds of up to 60 Mbps, The VDSL card will be compatible with the company?s existing ADSL rack and will deliver such high speeds for only comparatively short runs.

REACTION

For digital subscriber services, these solutions mean that they can offer services such as real-time application streaming to their customers much more affordably.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES

If some technologies are still in "infancy", this one is still in the "womb". Several vendors are unveiling solutions but the first generation of products is just being launched. If this technology ultimately produces the transmission the vendors advertise, there will be serious a head-to-head battle with cable companies. The result: customers have several cost-effective fast Internet choices.

RELEVANCE

As the book mentions in Chapter 10, many of the high-speed LANs cannot reach speeds of 60 Mbps on copper wire. This is usually accomplished using fiber optical fiber. This new technology (not even mention in the book) has great potential especially in terms of its cost. It is cheaper to do this over copper that over optical fiber.

Judge, Peter. (1999, October 4). Telecom Wares Boost DSL in Bandwidth Race. PC Week Magazine, pp. 12.