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The
future of the Internet depends on increased speed. Here's
a look at how to get there
By
Steve Heins
NorthNet
TAs the
business community - typically small- and medium-sized companies
without information technology departments - contemplates
higher speed Internet access, it's the right time to discuss
the various access options. The global telecommunication
industry celebrated an important milestone last summer.
For the first time, the total amount of data transmitted
over the world's telephone lines was larger than voice transmissions.
According to Datamonitor, an Internet industry source, Internet
traffic requiring additional bandwidth is growing at 1000
percent per year. Data is expected to constitute 99 percent
of telephone line usage in the future.
This article discusses the potential and limitations of
high speed Internet solutions. The growing "need for speed"
is being created by the large volume of new Internet traffic:
video and audio applications, e-commerce, and generally
increased Internet usage.
High speed Internet access, also known as broadband, allows
for many of these new Internet uses to become a reality.
As a example of broadband technologies to older services,
a recent USA Today study was conducted. The movie "Titanic"
was downloaded from the Internet via a regular dial-up connection
and then via a broadband connection.
The dial-up connection took 42 hours to download and the
broadband connection took 9 minutes.
Widely available broadband technology will eventually have
profound effects on entertainment, commerce, healthcare,
communication, and education; however, there are some significant
problems standing in the way of widespread high-speed access.
They are: (1) out-dated infrastructure, (2) distances from
telecommunication hubs, (3) deployment of necessary new
technologies, and (4) the cost/benefit analysis most businesses
and households use to determine the practicality of any
new expense.
First, let's look at the two most common Internet connection
technologies, analog modem connections and ISDN (Integrated
Services Digital Network). Most people are familiar with
the analog modem as the connection used via your telephone
line. ISDN is a digital service that is five or six times
faster than the analog connection. Both of these technologies
have an advantage in that almost anyone who has local phone
service has access to them and that they are the most inexpensive
options in terms of equipment and monthly costs. The biggest
drawback to these technologies is their lack of transmission
speed.
New high-speed broadband technologies include DSL (Digital
Subscriber Line), cable modems, utility power lines, and
wireless services. Each of these technologies has advantages
and disadvantages.
With certain exceptions, DSL has the largest advantage for
businesses applications such as dedicated and secure access,
greater speed, use of existing telephone lines, a variety
of operating modes, generally good performance, and affordability.
DSL's disadvantages include a restricted distance from telephone
hub, availability, operations support, and poor-quality
telephone lines.
Cable modems have the most advantage for residential users.
Soon, cablebandwidth will be available to anyone who has
a cable service. The pricing structure of cable service
make it very affordable for most consumers. Cable's disadvantages
make it a technology that most business users will find
unattractive. These disadvantages are: (1) shared bandwidth
translating to potential slower speeds when many users are
accessing the service; (2) shared bandwidth can create security
problems; (3) cable modems carry out-going data with less
bandwidth and therefore less speed; and (4) available operations
support make cable a fragile data network environment.
Utility power line and wireless connections are still in
their early stages of deployment. Given the fact they are
still awaiting technological innovations, the exact advantages
and disadvantages are yet to be defined. Presently, power
line connections offer slower speeds and wireless must solve
outage issues, security problems, and transmission gaps.
In this environment, the best advice an objective observer
can give to businesses and individuals is one of education.
One should become acquainted with the general details of
high speed Internet technologies and then find a telecommunications
consultant who is conversant in these technologies. As Frank
Tower, Director of Operations for NorthNet says, "Internet
Service Providers (ISP) may be the best resource for such
advice. They must have the greatest command of available
technology, because their service encompasses all telecommunication
technologies, particularly as it applies to the end-user."
In any case, one should expect a reputable consultant to
conduct a review of your current technology assets and the
availability of the newer solutions. Businesses and individuals
need to beware of "experts" who only sell one possible solution;
they are less likely to be objective and more likely to
be sales oriented advocates of their own proprietary products.
Ultimately, the consumer should adopt a conservative attitude
toward Internet technology where the reliability and usability
are more important than speed and cutting-edge innovation.
With the inherent imperfections of an aging telephone system
and cable infrastructure long controlled by government regulation,
the more time spent reviewing high speed Internet options
will reward those who are patient.
Stephen Heins is Director of Marketing for NorthNet in
Oshkosh and can be reached at [email protected].
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