Global - Broadband - Infrastructure - Access Technologies (Archived)

Synopsis

The Information highway is more of a concept than a defined technology. Its developments are slowly taking shape. The key is to provide access to these information highways. Initially they are driven by high-speed Internet access. The Internet as such can thus be classified as an information highway. This is driving the deployment of technologies such as xDSL, cable modems and Digital TV, they will start playing increasingly more important roles once their costs start coming down. Ultimately optical-fibre based access will be required.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Access, not content, is King
• 3. From Internet to Information Highway
• 4. Different access strategies
  • 4.1 Cable TV companies
  • 4.2 The telcos
  • 4.3 Multi-service utilities
• 5. Overview of major access technologies
• 6. Alternative access providers
• 7. Related reports

• Table 1 – Access technologies, worldwide market share – 1998; 2002
• Table 2 – Roll-out costs broadband networks

• Exhibit 1 – Key elements of the information highway infrastructure
• Exhibit 2 – Key information highway techniques
• Exhibit 3 – Strengths and weaknesses of existing networks w.r.t. the global information infrastructure
• Exhibit 4 – Some application bit rates
• Exhibit 5 – Overview of physical distribution networks for high-speed services
• Exhibit 6 – Comparison of access platforms’ advantages and disadvantages