Re: "is GTE back on track for its CLEC rollout?"
The best I can do is Fridays News......
NGN97: NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND SERVICES
The Microsoft/GTE ADSL trial in Redmond, Washington has been
successful and is a model for forthcoming service deployments from
GTE, according to Bob Olshansky, Manager of Advanced Services
Platforms for GTE Laboratories. The pilot network has shown that a
carrier's business model can support 200 ADSL lines per DS1
circuit. It has also proven the viability of Ethernet switches
for concentrating DSL connections directly to routers. Olshansky
said the Cisco Catalyst switches used in the trial network were
lower in cost and complexity than ATM-based DSLAMs, and their
management systems were already well understood. He also
expressed concern that the DS3 or OC-3 uplinks on DSLAMs would
likely waste bandwidth unless the network were always busy. GTE
also believes Ethernet should be used at the customer premises --
not ATM -- and recommends the installation of new Cat 5 wiring
inside most residences. Olshansky said he expected GTE to have
DSL services operational in four US markets by this month, however
regulatory issues have delayed the rollouts. Earlier this month,
US West introduced a 3-tier EtherPhone DSL service in areas near
Phoenix, Arizona, said Joe Glynn, director of Megabit Services
marketing for US West. The US West services are priced at
US$125/month for 704Kbps access, US$65/month for 320Kbps access
and US$40/month for 192Kbps. Signing up for service involves
installation of a splitter device and Ethernet card by the US West
-- line speed upgrades are performed by software configuration.
The current DSL offering is built with PairGain's EtherPhone
equipment and provisioned from the central offices using Cisco's
Catalyst switches. Glynn said US West is still evaluating a
"Phase 2" deployment, and currently has an RFP out for ATM DSLAM
equipment. Cable modems provide the biggest and best conduit to
the residential market, according to Milo Medin, @Home Network,
and will see a widespread deployment in the next two years as
support grows from Microsoft, the cable TV industry and a
groundswell of bandwidth hungry customers. Medin said cable modems
would have the ability to scale in bandwidth to tremendous
capacities and will be the key differentiation between the cable
TV industry and rival satellite digital television systems.
Currently, the @Home Networks has 26,000 subscribers and a very
high customer satisfaction ratio.
ATM !News Digest, November 7, 1997 |
