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LMDS, a new wireless technology capable of
supporting voice, data, video, and interactive services over a single
network is being touted as the network of the future, says a new market
research report from Insight Research. Yet after analyzing LMDS alongside
of the transmission and business characteristics of seven other networks
including telephone, cable TV, and the Internet, Insight concluded that no
single network architecture can offer the complete communications solution.
According to Insight's report Network Topologies for
Future Telecommunications Services 1997-2002, there is no single answer
to what type of network architecture service providers will be using to
deliver communications services in the years ahead. Insight expects
competition will force carriers to examine the differing needs of consumers
and businesses and offer alternative services tailored to the needs of each
market.
"A superficial look at the whole spectrum of architectures--POTS, CATV,
cellular, PCS, MMDS, LMDS, DBS, LEOs/MEOs--might suggest that LMDS is the
best bet because it handles voice, data, video, and interactivity," says
Robert Rosenberg, president of Insight. "But how much sense does it make to
deploy a relatively high-cost LMDS system to deliver video while satellite
is so much cheaper? The point is that in the future, carriers will utilize
a mix-and-match of networks to align cost/benefit with each customer's
requirements," Rosenberg concludes.
According to Insight, investment costs per subscriber varies from a low of
$415 for one-way satellite networks to a high of $1,856 for two-way POTS
networks. The other network types fall within these boundaries, with
cellular networks at $718 and CATV networks at a lower investment of $610.
Further insights into network architectures, network cost analysis, and the
network strategies of telecom carriers are published in Network Topologies for Future Telecommunications
Services 1997-2002.
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Broadband
Access: DSL or Cable Modems 2002-2006
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Telecom
Market
Research,
