05/05/2009

Ericsson gets 500Mbps Transfer Rate on VDSL2 Demo

Category broadband

Ericcson has achieved 500Mbps data transfer rates in a live Demo of their "vectorized" VDSL2 technology.

The great news here is they used existing copper wire, which is what DSL and phones run on now. Its also noe of the most prominent mediums in the world. So, other than the fact that they were able to get 9.5Gbps trasnfer, there wouoldn't need to be a lot of repulling of cable between you and the phone company to get it to you. That is usually the biggest factor on getting newer broadband connections to people. Has the cable been laid yet between you and the pole. But this technology uses the wires already there.

There are a few other obstacles to overcome as of yet, like distance, but keep your eyes on this one when the broadband stimulus plan starts to get worked on.

Posted by Dave Gilmore At 12:41 AM Location Studio | | Comments (0)

04/03/2009

Justifying the 4.2 Billion Broadband Funding Initiative

Category politics DMR broadband
In past episodes of the Digital Media Revolution, I have brought up the provisioning in the recent economic stimulus package President Obama has put in place. In my head I saw it as a good thing but often questioned its necessity faced with people losing houses, hospitals closing and all of the other economic issues we face. Getting people broadband connections just seemed not as important. But then I read this article by John Chambers of Cisco and it seems every bit as important as anything else now. Allow me to comment and expand on some of the things he brings up.

When I heard about this part of the stimulus package the only thing that crossed my mind was trying to get broadband to people who didn't have it in order to bring them onto a more level playing field with those of us who do. And while this is important for sure because it allows them to take advantage of many resources and things today's broadbander takes for granted I now realize there is so much more affected by this measure.

Chambers compares the internet superhighway to the national highway system erected in the 1950s. In order to achieve growth one needs growth in ones infrastructure. So just as highways connected cities, states and coats in ways never before in the 1950s so too has the internet thus far and it will only get better as boradband will become faster (more lanes on the freeway) and father reaching.

So just as new industries popped up in support and symbiosis with the highway system (things like truck stops, diners, even cities) so to will new industries pop up around technological innovation.

In health care, for example, dynamic collaboration by way of ultra high-speed networks will help researchers find cures for diseases faster. On a more personal level, remote consultations with doctors via our HealthPresence system are enabled when life-size, “HD” images and information are transmitted over such networks to doctors who can speak to directly to patients, view the data real-time and help make a diagnosis hundreds if not thousands of miles away. Indeed, as the Baby Boomers place ever-more stress on our health-care system, telemedicine is the next frontier, but it cannot happen unless all of our connections are fast and reliable, be they in the office or at home.


Think about that. If there is a neurology expert in Boston and you are a patient in LA who has just suffered massive brain trauma the hospital where you are will be able to send him high definition brain scans to look at and he will have them in minutes - from his house even. No more waiting for the mail to arrive or large files to download. It will be almost instant.

Another theory he mentions is that faster broadband will reduce commuting because people will have the same technology at home as they do in the office. This, in turn is good for the environment because that means less oil consumption and less emmisions because less people will be on the roads going to and from work.

And it takes people to build that infrastructure, too, by the way. An estimated 2 million people will be needed to dig up ditches, run wire, install hardware and get people connected in their homes and businesses.

Its pretty fascinating to me how one thing can "stimulate" so many other things. And the broadband stimulus piece is just one small area compared to all of the bigger components. I have never claimed to be much of an economist so I can't look at a the stimulus package as a whole and tell whether or not its a good idea. But this part sounds pretty good to me so far.

Posted by Dave Gilmore At 2:19 PM Location Studio | | Comments (0)