BellSouth next month will run digital subscriber line (DSL) gear through its paces to find out just what it takes to offer up easy-to-install broadband Internet access over regular phone lines.
The carriers will trial DSL hardware that integrates directly with telephone voice switches made by Lucent. The point of the exercise is to find out the pros and cons of handling DSL lines directly on the switches vs. using a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) in front of the switches.
BellSouth has committed to using DSLAMs made by Alcatel, but in some circumstances it may make more sense to have the customer's DSL lines terminate directly on the shelf of a Lucent 5ESS switch, according to John Cahill, director of advanced networking for BellSouth. That will depend on a variety of circumstances including the type of switch available near the customer's site.
Later, BellSouth will trial customer modems in conjunction with the Lucent switches. Those customer modems will support the new universal ADSL standard that was recently approved by the International Telecommunications Union.
UADSL, also called DSL.Lite, runs at less than the maximum ADSL speed, but can be installed without using an extra piece of hardware known as a splitter. Installing a splitter requires a site visit from a technician, this represents an expense carriers would like to avoid.
BellSouth will trial customer DSL modems from 3Com and Compaq to find out how well they interoperate with the phone switch and also to find out how wiring in homes affects the quality of the DSL connection.
The trials are being run in cooperation with the University of Miami. About 50 students and 50 faculty members all within a few miles of the campus, will use the DSL lines to connect to the university network, according to Lewis Temares, dean of the college of engineering at the university.
RELATED LINKS
DSL.Lite on trial in Oregon
Network World, 10/29/98.
ITU endorses G.Lite
Network World,
10/26/98.
Can't get enough DSL
Early implementers tout the easy installation and attractive pricing of digital subscriber line service - when they can get it. Plus a review of Paradyne Hotwire MVL. Network World, 11/16/98.
DSL Net Resources
Primers and additional DSL info.
