SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : AUTOHOME, Inc
ATHM 23.57-1.3%11:44 AM EST

 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (13222)8/1/1999 4:59:00 PM
From: E. Davies  Read Replies (1) of 29970
 
What's wrong with this picture?

The cable co's and the Bell co's have one major thing in common. They have gotten to where they are by being plodding, boring, and extremely conservative.

Who are we to say that that is wrong? As forward looking technically oriented people we want change and we want it fast. Spend the money now and build for the future. Sounds good right?

In the real world things always move a lot slower than you would think. Massive capital investment not only requires catching the right trend it requires spending the money at the right time. Build too far into the future and the debt or the unstable technology will kill you before you get the return on your investment.

The "right" way economically may very well be to do exactly what we expect will happen- build it assuming only a moderate success then improve it when it overloads, then build the next piece even better.

I often compare broadband/dial up to color TV/B&W. Lets not forget that B&W TV in one form or another lasted a good 25 years after the introduction of color. Already there are signs that the mass population has not figured out any significant value in a 200k-1mbit link vs 56k or even 28.8k. They will eventually of course but will it be 3 years or 10? How long before they see the value in fiber to the home?

I can only hope that somewhere buried in the labs of AT&T or cablelabs there are secret projects looking into the future similar to the one sprung on us in Salt Lake. It is not at all hard to imagine a system for example where fiber runs to the curb and the user still gets to keep the cable to his house and his DOCSIS modem.
Technologically lame and inferior? Sure. Economically optimal? Maybe. Who can say for sure?
Eric
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext