Re: Microsoft offering xDSL access

[Martin Hannigan <hannigan () xcom net>]

At 03:19 AM 1/23/98 -0000, you wrote:
> > Today there was an article in the sci-tech section of cnn.com mentioning
> > that Microsoft was teaming up with Intel and Compaq to offer xDSL service
> > to the homes for a very low price.  They claim to be able to provide
> > Internet access "30 times faster" than regular modems.   
>
> The announcement also said that four of the five baby Bells (all but
> BA) are also in on the deal so they'll all use common xDSL standards,
> something that's been a problem in the past.
>
> But the important thing they did not say (and which may be of some
> interest to NANOG) was what is supposed to happen to the packets once
> they whiz down the DSL wire from the consumer to the phone company
> central office, since DSL data, unlike ISDN or regular dialup
> connections, doesn't go through the phone switch.  Whoever handles
> that IP traffic needs a router or something similar next to the phone
> switch to connect to those DSL pairs.  Do the Bells plan to hand all
> the traffic to their oh-so-independent ISP subsidiaries?  Will it be

http://techweb.cmp.com/eet/news/97/941news/central.html and yes
you've got to have colo at the CO. I'm not sure how they're
going to hand off. I would think it would make sense for 
CLEC's to do the aggregation of DSL subscription and point
it back to the customer i.e. the ISP pulls a circuit into 
our CO, and we split the traffic after carrying it back from
the CO for the ISP.

Disclaimer: I'm thinking out loud. We're about to start DSL 
trials and I'm only certain of the colo situation.





Regards,

--
Martin Hannigan                       hannigan () xcom net
Director of Data Networks             V:617.500.0108
XCOM Technologies, INC.               F:617.500.0002
The Leading Carrier for ISP's         http://www.xcom.net