is VRTA also a leader in VDSL?
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MOTOROLA EXPECTS TO SIGN VDSL CONTRACTS IN EUROPE THIS YEAR
Motorola was not just focusing on television set top boxes, Kuznik added. It was also testing delivery in Europe of multimedia services over ordinary copper telephone wires, using a new technology dubbed: very high-speed digital subscriber lines (VDSL).
While he said that this new technology was already sold to 30,000 homes in the U.S., Kuznik expects Europe to catch up this year. Trials in France and Spain and discussions with Deutsche Telekom will lead to real contracts to roll out these services to consumers and small businesses, he said.
``I imagine it could be this year (that we sign) some of the contracts. We're definitely driving that way,'' he said.
VDSL-technology is a step up from ADSL which is being sold to consumers in the U.S. and several European countries since last year.
ADSL gives consumers broadband access to the Internet, which enables them to surf the web and download graphics and video images. VDSL gives consumers even more bandwidth, that will allow them to receive different television channels alongside Internet access.
``VDSL offers significantly higher bandwidth,'' said Susan Thompson of market research bureau Dataquest.
But she did not expect that VDSL will make major inroads in the next twelve months, pointing at the lower than expected pick-up of ADSL which consumers regard as too expensive.
``There are a lot of problems in positioning ADSL in terms of pricing,'' she said. VDSL will become even more expensive. Prices are high because telecom operators are afraid the new services will hurt traditional data services to companies which offer similar bandwidth but at much higher prices.
While the telecom operators will decide how much they will charge consumers for the VDSL service, Motorola will provide home base stations to upgrade the phone network.
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