[NTLUG:Discuss] Is Sprint ION Linux friendly?

[Mark Bickel]

> From discuss-admin at ntlug.org Tue Jan  9 18:00 CST 2001
> Date: Tue, 09 Jan 2001 17:58:39 -0600
> From: "Kathleen Weaver" <kathleen at augustmail.com>
> To: discuss at ntlug.org
> Subject: RE: [NTLUG:Discuss] Is Sprint ION Linux friendly?
 
> >Is there any way to know approximately when DSL will be available in a given
> >area?  Back in November, one of the SWBell customer service reps told me
> >that it would be ready for my neighborhood in January. Since then, they've
> >said they don't have any idea when it will be ready.
> 
> Keep an eye on www.dslreports.com  There is a SWBell spreadsheet on the internet,
> that disappears and reappears from time to time that has due dates on it, and it
> is very accurate.  To finish my elation at being back on ADSL...

I read something in the DMN Business section a couple of months ago where SBC
announced that they had plans to begin deploying DSL RAMs in the near future.
With RAMs, the DSLAM is placed much closer to the subscriber, which means less
copper loop length and thus more bandwidth and higher speeds. The idea here is
that instead of placing the DSLAM in the C.O., it is in a remote enclosure closer
to the subscriber. Network access is typically IP encapsulated in ATM over fiber.
The POTS line may be remoted to the same location as well, via SLIC or some other
digital carrier, or even to a Remote Switching Subsystem (RSS) so that the
copper loop originates at this remote enclosure rather than the associated C.O.

This type of topology promises better/faster/more/cheaper DSL access to the
suburban and rural subscribers. I'm hoping they do this soon, and put a DSL RAM
in the hut at New Hope, which would mean I might be able to get a POTS line
with a copper loop length of around 15K feet rather than the 34K feet I have
now. I could dump the IDSL and get more bandwidth for less money with ADSL.
I'm definitely not holding my breath on that though. Residential DSL has been 
something of a loss leader for the Local Exchange Carriers.

Mark.Bickel at ericsson.com