Why Is Today's Technology So Worn Out?
Analog Modems And 56Kbps Service
The applications used on the Internet and in corporate offices today are already so graphically-oriented and increasingly real-time oriented that analog bandwidth often cannot be used. Specifically, full motion video, interactive conferencing, and Internet telephony applications are setting strict demands that data be smoothly delivered at megabits per second. This is not possible through traditional analog modem technology over public POTS (plain old telephone system) networks. Still, POTS is the most widely used medium for small office connectivity because POTS access is nearly universal and POTS connectivity equipment is so inexpensive.
However, no one will argue for analog modem connectivity as the telecommunications medium
of choice because of several reasons: 1) its limited speed of 33.6 Kbps, 2) the fact that full speed connections are rare when dialing over significant distances, and that 3)
the connections are frequently unreliable.
Other technology is available, in particular 56K modem technology. This carries more bandwidth, but requires a digital link at the ISP or corporate site for connectivity, and only offers at best 33.6 speeds from the end user to the network. Despite these limitations, 56Kbps modem technology will continue alongside traditional modem technology for individual residential-level Internet access, for applications without demand for much bandwidth, and for connectivity on the road.
ISDN and 56K DDS
Realizing the limitations of analog methods to carry data, the local carriers have spent huge amounts of time and money to bring us a reliable service over their existing copper network with ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). ISDN is a proven technology with mature prod
ucts that allow for connectivity to Internet service providers and between branch offices. It is reliable, and with a digital bandwidth of up to 128Kbps, it is suitable for many moderate-bandwidth requirement applications such as streamed audio, some streamed video, and limited interactive videoconferencing.
ISDN's characteristics have made it perfect for SOHO use because of its ability to support multiple voice lines and devices such as fax machines and analog telephones. One of the things about ISDN that prevents its use at most corporate branch offices and SOHO environments is its cost. It's base rate in most areas is only slightly more than a traditional analog connection, but usage charges apply on a per-minute basis for connections. In most areas, these per minute charges can rapidly escalate if they aren't carefully managed and used only as needed.
Another well-warranted complaint about ISDN is that it is an administration nightmare. There is nothing intuitive or simple about getti
ng ISDN installed because it has a myriad of configuration options that need to be resolved with the telco when ordering the service. Most of these options are line provisioning co
des, which are different according to the location and type of equipment that is being connected to the local ISDN line. A technician is needed to install an interface at a customer location, and a separate copper pair is needed because ISDN can't operate concurrently with POTS interfaces. The equipment alone is often difficult to configure because many times telco technicians don't understand enough about ISDN's line provisioning to help you troubleshoot the line itself, much less the equipment connected to it.
Furthermore, both sides of the connection need to have ISDN service in order to make connections, and ISDN service isn't available in enough areas to promise connectivity to any location that you wish. ISDN service requires the upgrade or replacement of older switches - a process that is very expensive for the t
elephone companies to follow through with. Even in areas where ISDN can be installed, the service requires a lot of telco resource overhead and has a tendency to heavily tax already over-utilized switches that comprise the POTS network. Therefore the telephone companies are constantly forced to keep ISDN's rates high. 56Kbps DDS service, of which most corporate wide area networks are built, operates over copper and will suffer for its combination of low bandwidth and its lack of the switched flexibility that ISDN has.
This puts organizations between a rock and a hard place when choosing between slow analog technology, potentially expensive 128Kbps ISDN service, and making the next jump all the way to 1.5Mbps T1 service at a much higher cost. For remote offices needing the bandwidth for multimedia, distance learning, and interactive video, any bandwidth less than T1 is unacceptable, but often the price for T1 rules it out as an option. Therefore, cable and ADSL services are being looked upon to serv
e as the "temporary" solution to their bandwidth problems. While these services promise cheap service of 10Mbps bandwidth, there are problems with each that will pose significant probl
ems in each of their futures.
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