DSL

Here's How

Universal broadband service is practical and affordable. Every telco, not just SBC, should offer it.

by Dave Burstein
DSL Prime

September 20, 2000

Right now, 60-70% of the US can receive DSL. Current plans will raise that number over 85% in two years, a remarkable achievement but no consolation to those left behind. The United States is committed to bringing broadband to all its citizens. SBC, one-third of the US, has made that pledge, so it's clearly possible. FCC commissioner Gloria Tristani explained "We cannot afford to become a society of information "haves" and "have-nots" in a world in which the ability to access and manipulate information is the currency of the day."

We believe these issues apply beyond the US as well. France Telecom just asked for incentives for "investing in the alternative local loop infrastructures needed to bring high-speed Internet to the entire country." Sweden has committed to universal service, and the Asian tigers will probably do the same.

Compared to the $300 or so in marketing it costs to acquire a customer, these techniques are inexpensive, with likely added costs per subscriber of $50-$200 They can extend your market 20-25%, so we think they are good business as well as the right thing to do to serve your communities. Problems remain, but your engineers, if mandated, are good enough to solve them.

Here's how to do it:

DSL can deliver megabits 25-30,000 feet with repeaters
At DSLcon, talk to Steve Struther of 2Wire
$20 of components, or less, is all it costs to build a repeater that can double the reach of ADSL. First-rate engineers, including a prominent professor well known in the industry, tell us it should work just fine. A leading CTO pointed out that repeaters are included in the G.shdsl spec, including a line-powered unit designed to deliver 1.5 meg 15-18,000 feet (and 50,000 feet with power). Why isn't it in your labs and field trials? Symmetricom has a similar product called GoLong, and GoDigital is already supplying telcos with a unit that can be easily modified to deliver 544K at long distance. They've reviewed these products with standards experts, and proposed solutions to any problems that have come up. The cost is low, because they've found it practical to boost the entire signal, rather than regenerate it.

Because the primary market for this product is telcos, it won't be produced without your support. Given support, it can be produced and installed inexpensively - and bought in telco quantities the cost will be low. But unless you prove this technology is impractical, you're deceitful telling regulators or customers DSL is limited to 12-18,000 feet. (For the record, our new publication, Fast Net News, is discussing substantial support with another part of 2Wire, and we thought we'd mention the potential conflict as we report about them.)

Millions more can be served if you test their lines
We were skeptical when Teradyne reported that millions more could be served if the telcos changed procedures and tested lines more thoroughly, but have confirmed the story. Currently, an enormous number of potential customers are being told they can't get DSL although the lines are perfectly able to support the service. We've learned that in most cases where the loop quality is not absolutely solid, customers are being denied, because the telcos don't want to risk a wasted truck roll and a disappointed customer. But with proper testing, and openness to the customer that service cannot be guaranteed, most will work just fine. We've invited the test equipment makers to write articles about how this could be achieved, and also to provide hard data on how many would benefit. Our guess is 5-10% of customers are mistakenly told they can't get service — more than the actual number with a true distance limit.

Cleaning up lines help millions more
Unneeded load coils and unnecessary bridge taps can often be removed and problems solved. SBC, again to their credit, will do so; the other telcos have inconsistent policies. Again, a well-planned test procedure, often backed by simple repair, is the solution for most customers.

A modest proposal for the those the telcos won't reach quickly
At virtually no added cost, and with minimal government interference, the competitive market can deliver service to many who otherwise would wait years. By simply requesting the telco deployment schedules, and publishing them, smart independent operators (like New Edge Networks and DSL.net) will know where to go for "first-mover" advantage. They're sure to target those the telcos won't and bring service quicker. Customers already are claiming nationwide that they can't get service, and the telcos won't even tell them if they ever will. Each state PUC, or the feds, can identify the least served areas, and free enterprise will solve that problem.

DLC Remote terminals are cost-effective
Advanced Fiber and Alcatel are supplying 14,000 DLCs to SBC's Project Pronto, a cost effective way to reach more with better service. AFC also has an upgrade program to existing DLCs, and other vendors will compete for your business.

VoDSL can solve your line shortage problem
Exhaustion of copper is a real problem in many areas, limiting flexibility for the telco implementing some of these measures. Lines that can't be economically cleaned up can often be replaced by other copper; repeaters may require dedicated pairs for power. But residential VoDSL is in advanced tests, and can be used in a system that creates more spare pairs. Now, manufacturers and standards must bring down the home-box cost - but numerous gateway vendors are close to market with sub $200 units, and Virata, Lucent, Infineon and others are designing chips that will drive down costs.

Every CO has the right DSLAM
-If Vitts can do the small towns in Vermont, so can you
An RBOC VP told us it was "simply too expensive to put a DSLAM in smaller COs." We asked her "How much does it cost to install a $10,000 DSLAM?" thinking of the units from Net to Net that have proven themselves in the field. Copper Mountain bought OnPrem to have a line of small DSLAMs, and Lucent just announced the LS. Alcatel, Nokia and Cisco are all customer focused; if their telco customers asked, they could offer similar units for the smaller offices.

Yes, 5% will be tough
Some, perhaps 5%, are extraordinary distances away or have lines impractical to clear. But satellite to fill in is cheap enough for AOL, and is part of the contingency plans for SBC & AT&T. If AOL can make money on satellite costs, telco budgets can find a way to serve these last customers without incurring losses. Our back of the envelope calculations show a net contribution to overhead when looking at marginal costs, without even considering the likely volume deals a telco could strike. We'd welcome firm numbers from the satellite folks in our audience.

DSL Prime welcomes articles on how to solve the problems — or disagreements about any of the above.

Copyright 2000 Dave Burstein.
The DSL Prime Newsletter is reprinted with permission.

"The power of the printing press belongs solely to those who own the presses"
—A.J. Leibling

The Internet is the cheapest printing press ever invented.

—End