The IP Over NBMA (ION) Archive

[Xing Chen <xchen@techmail.gdc.com>]

James E. [Jed] Donnelley <jed@llnl.gov> wrote:

> 
> Albert Manfredi <manfredi@arl.bna.boeing.com>  wrote:
> 
> >jtburgess@predictive.com wrote:
> >
> >> False.  At least according to the ADSL Forum,
> >> 70-80% of homes in the US are "within reach" of ADSL.
> >> This includes existing Digital Loop Carrier systems.
> >> This is why the TelCos are so interested in xDSL solutions!
> >
> >I must have missed something about xDSL, then, because my impression was
> >that it is only a physical layer signaling scheme. In other words, it
> >does permit high data rates across voice grade twisted pair cables, but
> >what does it do for the rest of the problem? You still have to reach
> >that ISP, no?
> >
> >From other responses I got, it appears that along with xDSL comes a way
> >to bypass the telco switches as well. But here again, you first have to
> >reach the ISP before you can start bypassing switches, no?
> 
> The RBOCs certainly seem to be in the best position to benefit
> from xDSL technology.  For them there is essentially no
> "rest of the problem."  They can bring in an xDSL connection
> from a customer, run the data side directly into a router
> for bundling up to the next level ISP (they are already likely
> an ISP themselves) and they can route the POTS line (if included)
> directly into their switched POTS network.  It seems to me
> that everybody wins.
> 
> If you aren't an RBOC then it seems to get more complicated technically
> (though perhaps simpler bureaucratically).  In that case it would
> seem that you need to run a pair of wires through the RBOC's
> POP to your site (where your upstream ISP connectivity is)
> and then send the POTS line(s) back to the RBOC's POP.  Sounds
> a bit messy.  Does anyone have any alternative thoughts?
> (though we are getting a bit far afield from ATM...  I would
> be happy to take any thoughts privately)
> 

As far as I understand, according to the "Telecommunications Act of 1996",
CLEC and ISP should be able to colocate their equipments into the CO with
certain restrictions such as space, power, etc. It is likely that these
equipments are xDSL termination units or dslams. The POTS lines could be
directed to the voice switches while the data (probably over PPP or ATM
depending on which xDSL technology, DSL, HDSL, ADSL, ...) will be switched
or routed to ISPs. Could someone confirm this? But anyway, I don't think
you have copper wires between RBOC's POP and ISP's POP.

Regards,
---------
Xing Chen
General DataComm, Inc.
Park Road Extension             Tel: 203-758-1811
PO Box 1299                     Fax: 203-755-0896
Middlebury, CT 06762-1299       Email: xchen@gdc.com