Hi Frank,
ATHM should also be thinking in terms of extending their reach by
means of all DSL and wireless services, as well. Why not?
Two reasons why not come immediately to mind.
Re: DSL roll out rates are an astonishment to me. The RBOCs can see the LVLTs and GBLXs gathering momentum. They know that Armstrong has billions in new bond money to install HFC plant. And yet, the rate at which DSL proliferates has nothing to do with upcoming market dynamics or with the state of the art in DSL development. It has everything to do with maintaining the status quo as long as possible. Why ATHM should spend more than a nanosecond thinking about getting entangled in all the tariffed traffic, PUC brouhahas, and political machinations that is the world of the "old and soon dead" circuit-based PSTN is completely beyond me.
Re: Wireless, to paraphrase: "Show me the product". Though COVD, NXLK, WCII etc have a great product for densely populated business locations, the suburban/exurban wireless solution at a compelling price level is at least 18 months away, and probably longer. Not that it can't be done, but it can't be done cheaply enough yet. Here in Bend,OR one quote on wireless IP access is Fractional T-1 (768Kbps) for $500/mo. plus installation. Not quite ready for the masses yet.
Best, Ry |
