Posted: 16th Sep, 2003 By: MarkJ
Alcatel has announced a massive 15m DSLAMS order, the equipment that connects ADSL lines to local exchanges, with Video Networks (Video-on-Demand ISP HomeChoice). This is believed to signal a serious investment in LLU (non-BT) based ADSL expansion by the ISP:
Operators have tended to focus on connecting to business, and as a result own virtually no copper lines to residential homes, with the exception of cable TV operators that offer cable modem connection. If you own no copper, the only way to offer a broadband service is by connecting to the local telephone exchange with your own DSLAMs, which BT has fervently resisted. That gives the incumbent telco a free run at ADSL lines.
However Oftel, the UK Office of Telecommunications, has cleared the way for unbundling at the local loop in the UK and Video Networks can attach its own DSL lines to phone exchanges, effectively unbundling the broadband last mile to deliver entertainment services.
The fact that Video Networks has ordered enough DSLAM connections to connect 1 million homes, effectively doubling the number currently connected in the entire UK, implies that it has approval from Oftel and BT to allow their connection. For some time now Video Networks has been talking about extending its Video on Demand service, called Homechoice, across all of London, and now it appears ready to make its move, by adding 1 million homes to those that British Telecom has already connected in the UK.Sadly there's very little concrete information regarding exactly how VN will use the new kit, although the above indication is more or less believe to be their direction. More @
The Register.