I, too, was unfamiliar with the fact that ALA is marketing Litespan under the DSC name. ahhaha's reference to it is the first I've come across.
Inside the 6x6x8 metal box there is a unit about the size of a PC that sits in a slot in a rack. The unit is black and says "DSC Communications" on the right side. That's all I know.
On further investigation I have been able to identify more of these metal boxes far closer together than first assumed. Rather than 5 miles apart they are more like 1 mile apart so they must serve 1/5 the number of users, say 1,000 rather than 5,000. The 5,000 figure came from someone who was not sure of number of users supported, but given all the empty slots, the metal box had a lot of expansion potential.
From Alcatel's discussion of their Litespan 1540 SD it seems this metal box contains one. What is interesting about this SDH-DLC is that it can support or interface all the kinds of narrow and broadband services, DSL, POTS, FO Internet, ISDN, VOD, a versatile device that shortens the haul. In this case Att is using it exclusively for FOC. There are three feeds going into the box. One is the loop FOC, the second is CATV, and the third is power. There is no copper data line.
This box discussion is not of much interest by itself, but it does show that Att is very close to launching retail BB:telephony and it shows their commitment to make BB:Internet robust in the LM. You won't find the same degree of material concerted effort being made by the local BOC, PacBell, which controls communications here. Att is coming in from the outside completely alone and taking this aggressive step. One has to be impressed with Att for doing what they said they would this quickly.
These metal boxes by mere appearance look like Att means business. The boxes with their imposing look symbolize the big time and they promise Att is going to grab the market in these various communications services. |
