ED - Re:[competiting technologies]
As you know, I'm not a 'techie' so please correct any misunderstandings that follow.
Stepping back from my seemingly myopic daily look at the 'data transmission' field I notice a few things. In the almost 2 years that I have been anxiously awaiting commercial deployment of ADSL and all that goes along with it, ie: video on demand, etc., I have been hearing that cable just can't really compete for various reasons. What
has been cited was capital needs to re-wire with fiber and inability to offer two way avenues.
Ed,
Your very modest, and yes Capital to upgrade the infrastructure is the Key, as most cable companies are barely breaking even with little $ left to upgrade.
With a deeper look and understanding of the field than I can muster, MSFT has invested $1 billion in one cable venture and is looking into another $ 1 billion deal. They bought WebTV.
Any comments as to why they or some other forward thinking company hasn't made strong financial commitments to ADSL?
The Telco's have the Bucks, and control of the copper! And even though they are now required to allow others to use the copper, they are finding many ingenious ways to prevent others such as ISP's access. And if you can't get access to the copper, what good does it do forward thinking company to make a commitment when they keep running up against a brick wall. Though this is not the case everywhere.
A heated debate over access to copper between an ISP and a Telco Rep at Telechoices ADSL Symposium at the Hilton in New Orleans during Supercomm gave me an insight into this area. Hitting these RoadShows has been worth the $$ & effort.
Adding my 2 cents, MSFT's next $1 Billion investment into Cable will most likely be TCI.
And TCI can get all the help it can muster. ourworld.compuserve.com
Their Chart seem bears out the MSFT/TCI (TCOMA) theory. In April 96 they were at $22, and went down to around $11 Apr. 97 moving slowly to $17 at the end of Aug. they have now moved from $17 to $24. today.
As you know I am excited about LMDS, as it offers TV, Telephone, and I-Net access and has great potential, where others such as MMDS etc. fall short. Since LMDS Spectrum is the largest wirless spectrum to ever hit the FCC auction block and the technology is easily deployed without digging up the world laying a tangible infrastructure it's impact will IMO, be HUGE.
If you want my full Five Cents (sorry no change) I feel a good chunk of MSFT's $1 billion in TCI will be used to Bid in the FCC's LMDS Auction!
As for ADSL, well 700 million POTS lines already in the ground says it will be prolific, eventually.
Well I better head out to the Cape, I want to help insure the Atlas lifts off on Friday, I don't want to spend another weekend in the ROCC.
I feel another song coming on!
JW@KSC |
