* A look at the status and challenges of DSL
DSL technology, already struggling for corporate dollars, was smacked down yet again last week when the Federal Communications Commission voted to phase out line-sharing over the next three years. Line-sharing lowers costs for DSL carriers by letting them provide service over the same copper loops the incumbent local exchange carriers use to provide voice service, rather than having to lease separate loops from the LECs at higher prices.
How the ruling ultimately affects DSL providers remains to be seen of course, but the ruling comes at a time when DSL implementations have been inching forward (much slower than proponents thought just a couple years ago, but they are moving forward). For example, at the end of the first quarter of 2002 only 23% of the about 4.9 million DSLs deployed in the U.S. were business-class, according to research by consultancy TeleChoice.
New DSL flavors, such as single-pair high-speed DSL (G.SHDSL), which is slowly beginning to appear, might make DSL more popular with business users. Some companies use the technology to support work-at-home programs. Others use it to connect remote offices to a central headquarters.
Our Special Focus this week takes a look at the status of DSL and looks at some of the technology’s key challenges. Take a look: https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0303carrsf.html
