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Technology Stocks : LAST MILE TECHNOLOGIES - Let's Discuss Them Here -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MikeM54321 who wrote (8297)	8/31/2000 8:25:53 PM
From: j.m. walsh	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

<<Why do I still feel that the HFC plant has an advantage over the DSL/DBS combo? Maybe it's because of VOD. DBS can't do VOD, or can it?>> Well the current DBS folks use a phoneline as the return channel. This seems just an extension of that, perhaps at DSL speeds, and to include internet access. DBS satellites don't seem to have the bandwidth to tie up a channel per user for a VOD service..unless they can burst it somehow to a local/pvr /stb cache. Echostar's new STB/Receiver can do this, I think. The Cable/Telco folks can add near-edge cache in their HFC architectures and give some VOD-like services to limited numbers of people...but apparently enough to make a business case, as many are trying this out. VDSL was supposed to bring video speeds to phone lines, but I see today where US West will probably drop their trials and give up. Mike - I really like your posts...learning a lot ! JMW

To: MikeM54321 who wrote (8297)	9/3/2000 12:21:09 PM
From: MikeM54321	Respond to of 12823

Re: Digital TV - Telco vs Cableco / BellSouth DBS and Pace STB Stats Thread- Here's some further follow-up PR on BellSouth's plans to compete with the cablecos via a DBS model. Notice that the PR states that originally BLS was going to run with MMDS, but now have elected to go with DBS. It's an important point because like TV/VDSL, I'm having my doubts that TV/MMDS is ever going to rollout sucessfully. Remember this is all strictly PR for now. Stuff the SP and their equipment suppliers love to put out, but mean nothing until it actually happens. -MikeM(From Florida) DBS- satellite TV service MMDS- terrestrial wireless service originally intended for TV SP- service providers cableco, telecos, etc. STB- set top box DTH- direct to home(same as DBS) DVB- digital video broadcast?(new one for me) _____________________________ Pace signed an agreement with BellSouth to provide 200,000 digital set-top boxes over 12 months for BellSouth's entrance into the satellite (DTH) business, marking the first time a telephone company will offer video and data services over satellite in the U.S. BellSouth originally chose Pace to develop digital boxes for its video service offerings over MMDS, which has now evolved into its satellite service offering. The advanced DVB digital satellite box will include a new highly-integrated chip with an embedded 175 MIPS processor, 16-bit graphics capability, and software telco modem. It will be capable of offering broadcast video, e-mail, and Internet services.