Telework and national broadband

Teleworkers can throw a wrinkle in companies’ network optimization plans. Ensuring speedy application delivery to employees’ home or mobile offices requires a different strategy than typical branch office setups.

There are a number of so-called soft WOCs, or software-based WAN optimization controllers, geared for mobile employees. Blue Coat, Cisco, Expand Networks and Riverbed, to name just a few vendors, are among the suppliers of software-based acceleration products. 

These technologies for client-based WAN optimization have been steadily attracting interest as more employees work outside traditional offices. Meanwhile, there are government initiatives underway that spotlight the importance of telework when it comes to network planning.

Earlier this month, as part of its efforts to draft a national broadband plan, the Federal Communications Commission issued a call for comments on telework. The agency is digging into issues such as how broadband could increase the practicality of telework. Among the questions the FCC put out for comment are:

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Teleworkers can throw a wrinkle in companies’ network optimization plans. Ensuring speedy application delivery to employees’ home or mobile offices requires a different strategy than typical branch office setups.

There are a number of so-called soft WOCs, or software-based WAN optimization controllers, geared for mobile employees. Blue Coat, Cisco, Expand Networks and Riverbed, to name just a few vendors, are among the suppliers of software-based acceleration products. 

These technologies for client-based WAN optimization have been steadily attracting interest as more employees work outside traditional offices. Meanwhile, there are government initiatives underway that spotlight the importance of telework when it comes to network planning.

Earlier this month, as part of its efforts to draft a national broadband plan, the Federal Communications Commission issued a call for comments on telework. The agency is digging into issues such as how broadband could increase the practicality of telework. Among the questions the FCC put out for comment are:

* How does broadband increase the effectiveness of telework?

* What technologies, processes, regulations, and capabilities need to be in place to allow government, businesses, and employees to quickly shift to telework effectively and economically in case of natural disasters, outbreaks of disease, or other contingencies?

* What applications do teleworkers most frequently use? How do the applications used change across different industries and user types?

* What broadband characteristics are essential for teleworkers to be able to use those applications and succeed in telework (e.g., low latency, consistent data rates, mobility, reliability, etc.)?

* How will these characteristics evolve? What is the impact of improved hardware and software and increased capabilities for compression and signal processing?

* How do efficiencies and employee capabilities scale with increased data rates or other broadband enhancements?

Comments are due Sept. 22. It will be interesting to see how the industry responds.

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