Microsoft offering xDSL access

Mon Jan 26 05:17:50 UTC 1998

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanog at merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog at merit.edu]On Behalf Of
> Martin Hannigan
> Sent: Friday, January 23, 1998 8:59 AM
> To: nanog at merit.edu
> Subject: Re: Microsoft offering xDSL access
>
>
> 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.
>

We didn't even want to THINK about talking to the telco about co-lo at the
CO.
Our solution was to go to a business that is NEXT DOOR to the CO and offer
them
free/cheap internet in exchange for rack and space on their telco
termination board.
We're getting very good distance on our pairs.