"rcleary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
[in group news:comp.dcom.cabling]
>> It seems that a few years ago fiber was the hot subject. I would like
>> to know if there are any plans to try to run fiber to the house, and
>> what is the problem with why it hasn't been done already. Are there
>> problems with the hardware or is it a problem with running power with
>> the fiber?
"Lucas Tam" <(E-Mail Removed)> replyed
> Considering cable and ADSL provide more than enough bandwidth at the
> moment, there is no point to run a fiber line to each house.
The need for bandwith is unlimited. The problem is more in the way telcos
and monopolies do business. The is no point in offering a premium service to
the masses if it can be limited to a few high paying customers at exorbitant
prices. If 10Mbps or 100Mbps would be made available to everybody then there
would be no way of blackmailing the rich to pay more.
Economic theory knows this as discriminatory pricing. Marketing people tend
to speak about "segmentation".
****
The technology for high-speed services exists, and at todays prices, costs
next to nothing. This technology is called "Ethernet".
Todays Ethernet is very different from the Ethernet of 20 years ago.
- The introduction of switches has increased the capacity of Ethernet
networks over a thousand fold.
- Single-mode fiber optics allows the network to span hundreds of miles.
- Ethernet speeds range from 10Mbps to 10Gbps.
- One Ethernet LAN can contain tens of thousand of hosts.
Ethernet is todays technology of choice for LANs WANs MANs or even "Global
Area Networks"
The price of Ethernet hardware has come down to levels uncomparable to any
other technology. My estimate of the relative costs of Ethernet-based local
telecommunication
90% Right-of-way
9% Fibers and cables
1% Active devices
On eBay anybody can by the hardware needed to provide Ethernet service to
tens of thousands of users. Paying for the rights to use telco owned conduts
is where the real costs are.
****
An other important technical developement is 802.1Q Virtual LANs (VLAN).
These enable the operation of "open access" networks, where different
competing service providers are isolated in separate VLANs.
The natural boundary between collective infrastructure and the realm of
fierce corporate competition is between the OSI layers L-2 (Ethernet) and
L-3 (Internet Protocol).
****
Fiber optic devices are still more expensive than copper devices and always
will be. The cost of an Ethernet infrastructure can be reduced if one fiber
connection can be shared by multiple users in a 100 meter radius. This can
best be achieved in appartement buildings. If Cat-3 or Cat-5 cabling is not
available Ethernet can be run over existing telephone wires.
HomePNA switches enable a 1Mbps Ethernet-like connection over the same pair
of wire used by the telephone.
http://www.nexo.com.tw/Products/HomePNA_HS-2402I.htm
Normal 10Base-T Ethernet will work on most telephone wire. If two free pairs
are not available a splitter/filter system provided by etherSPLIT can be
used.
http://www.ethersplit.com/
VDSL, also known as Cisco Long-Reach Etherent can extend the range up to
1500m at speeds up to 15Mbps.
****
To make high-speed consumer connections a reality we must eliminate
discriminatory pricing. This is only possible if we can bypass the
monopolies. In practice this means local control or ownership of the Layer-2
Ethernet infrastructure.
What is needed is an Open Access network that is independent of any telcos
or Internet Service Providers. This network will give equal access to
services of multiple ISPs and enable unhindered competition. In the advanced
vision local communication on this Ethernet network is in no way restricted;
WLAN access points are open to everyone. A service agreement with one of the
ISPs is needed to communicate from the open access network to the Internet.
This network can come about in two different ways:
- Through the co-operation and initiative of property owners and
developers.
http://www.stockholmopen.net/
- Through the active participation of municipalities.
http://www.utopianet.org/
--
Petri Krohn
petri. krohn <a@t> iki. FI(nland)
__________________________________________________ ___________
Fiber-optic Community Networking:
http://www.HelsinkiOpen.net
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