I've got that 'confused' feeling again. I don't believe I'm comparing apples to apples. These must be two separate projects, DISC vs ATM? Suppose I better do some more homework, sorry for any confusion From yesterdays tidbit on Bell South & Marconi,
"...an agreement between the innovative, Atlanta-based operator and Marconi Communications, which will see an aggressive implementation of Marconi Communications' DISC*S(R)FiberStar(TM) flexible access platform.
Later this year, in what is believed to be the largest commercial broadband fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) initiative the world has ever
seen, residential and business subscribers of BellSouth will deploy Integrated Fiber in the Loop (IFITL) to provide broadcast video, high-speed Internet data and the latest voice communications applications.
IFITL is a configuration of DISC*S FiberStar tailored to BellSouth requirements. Marconi's DISC*S FiberStar is a multi-service platform capable of delivering a variety of narrowband, wideband and broadband services -- from plain old telephone service (POTS) to high-speed data over digital subscriber lines (xDSL) to broadcast video. The DISC*S single-fiber architecture offers a cost-effective deep reach into the local network with the lowest power requirement of any FTTC platform available today.
Integral to BellSouth's deployment plans is Marconi Communications' optical network unit (ONU), a curbside distribution unit which acts as an intermediary point between DISC*S FiberStar optical channel shelves and the customer premise. A wave division multiplexer (WDM) combines 1310 nm and 1550 nm optical signals on the single fiber, including Amplitude Modulated, Vestigial Side Band (AM-VSB) analog and digital broadcast video. The ONU extends the advantages of fiber-optic transmission to within 500 feet of the user, economically providing virtually unlimited bandwidth to subscribers.
The low-power design of the DISC*S ONU architecture is the most efficient in the industry, using only one-third to one-half the power required for competitor ONUs."
On the other hand, 2days story refers to a NO power optical network unit (ONU), or passive optical unit (PSO).
"...serve eight to 16 homes from a single piece of electronic gear known as an optical network unit.
BellSouth's (www.bellsouth.com) new approach eliminates use of electronics in the field, incorporating passive optical network
technology instead. PON devices can appropriately direct lightwaves without needing electronics or electrical power. An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network will be used initially to deliver high-speed data, along with 120 digital video channels, 70 analog video channels and 31 digital audio channels."
The above sounds a bit strange to me, "single piece of electronic gear...new approach eliminates the use of electronics...incorporating passive optical tech. instead", huh?
I would think that the Triplexer that MRV supplies to Reltec/Marconi in incorporated into Marconi's ONU, which they supply to Bell South. LU must have a ONU also, which is passive & has an ATM network on the headend. What feeds the DISC system, something else, or ATM? I don't really understnd the diffences btw these two approaches, they sound very similar & yet? Maybe LU or Oki Electric Industry makes a system comparable to Marconi's? Is everyone sufficiently confused now?;-(
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