Broadband, technology of the future

Features of the week:

The need to unbundle the benefits of Broadband technology is examined in this report by REMMY NWEKE.

IN need to have access to some urgent information on his electronic mail (e-mail) box, Mazi Ofor Ikotuonye, a post graduate candidate of one of the states’ universities in Lagos, rushed out of his residence and headed to the nearby Internet café.

At the first café, nothing seemed to be happening though Internet savvy looking people were sitting before Personal Computers obviously linked to the Internet. They were waiting for the telephone line and a box, which he learnt, was a dial-up modem to connect to the Internet, before they could resume browsing.

A modem is a device used to transmit and receive digital data over a communications line normally used for analog signals, according to Columbia Encyclopedia. A modem could also come in form of cable or wireless format.

Initially, every person in the cafe with about 10 PCs were praying within themselves that rancorous noise of telephone buzzing across to the modem would seize, which otherwise means it has connected, but always indicating the engaged tone. He looked around and decided to check the next cafe, where he found out that the Internet was at rather snail speed and those already surfing were wearing long faces.

He dashed out again, yet to another café further down the road; there, people where very relaxed, surfing from one website to another in search of information.

Instantly, out of curiosity, he approached the manager of the café to inquire on what kind of service or technology that was deployed by them, only to be told "Broadband technology".

According to Broadband.com, this technology is technically defined as the non-specific term for high-speed digital internet access. Generally, Broadband includes the Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs, T1,T3 or even E1 lines) and the brand new satellite internet connection.

It is also seen as the latest in high-speed internet access technology, delivering access at speed hundreds of times faster than a dial-up modem can provide.

The BBCNews Online described Broadband as a system designed for high-speed transmission of huge amounts of electronic data.

Hence, it could be likened to a pipe carrying water and if one wants to get more water down the pipe, and send it faster; definitely the person needs a larger pipe, and so is broad bandwidth. Bandwidth is the capacity of a communications line in transmitting or receiving information.

To this end, BBCNews Online also noted that this same result could be achieved in respect of data, deploying advanced cable technology, radio frequency transmissions or satellite systems, as the case may be.

This is to further say that various signals were combined into one for the purposes of transmission down the wire and is separated on reaching the destination.

While DSL, a core technology bundled within the broadband range could best go for an always-on internet connection that uses available ordinary copper phone line for both home phone service and a high-speed internet connection.

Thus, it could be used to surf the world wide web (www) and still talk on the same time over an existing phone line, without having to install a new one.

Data Communications for Business, describing T1 as a revolution introduced by AT & T in 1962, said its a digital data stream capable of handling 24 independent connections simultaneously. It has proved to be a cost-effective means of linking voice and data, both inter-office and intra-office; serving as an alternative to high-speed modems for data transport.

In other words, bringing about an increased usage or deployment of T1, since most users of T1 have come to term with the notion that it costs less to have a T1 trunk than a series of leased telephone lines in a point-to-point topology, according to TechFest.Com.

Dallas SemiConductor/Maxim Integrated, explained that a full T1, a term for a digital carrier facility used to transmit Digital Signals (DS) at 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps), is made up of about 24 digital channels.

This, also requires a Digital Connection Device (DCD) unit or Customer Switching Unit (CSU) to connect to four wires in order to carry the information, and most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have T1 as their connection to the Internet, just as a full T1 accommodates over 200 internet users amidst other services offered by their providers.

On the T3, Sunrise Telecom said it is a network transport architecture-embedded with variety of purposes, convenient for carrying 672 voice channels in one circuit.

Latest T3 applications, Champion Infotel learnt, include the transport of broadcast quality video, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) physical layer connections and super computer direct links.

It was also recognized by Sunrise Telecom that T3 and T1 are general terms referring to the transformation of 44.736 Mbps and 1.544 Mbps worth of digital circuits over any media, respectively.

"T3 and T1 could be transported over copper, fibre or radio," Sunrise Telecom declared, stressing that Digital Signal (DS-3) and DS-1 are terms for electrical signal found at the metallic interfaces for these circuits where most testing is performed.

Throwing more light on the efficacy of Broadband core-competences, the chief executive of PiNet Nigeria Limited, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said T1 or T3 is a technical standards which are dominantly used in the United States, while the E1 is the European standard that offers 2 Megabits per second of data or signal.

E1 line also comes along with about 30 telephone points and also mainly used by ISPs, but provided by national operators.

Ajayi, who is the vice president of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), agreed that broadband core technology, would go a long way in ameliorating the penetration of internet and information in developing nations, including Nigeria.

Experts also said some of the merits embedded in Broadband is radically a life-changing steps as electronic mails containing attachments would be downloaded in seconds, and same with attaching files on your mails.

For music lovers, along other entertainment offered nowadays on the internet, the labour over dial-up modem would be a forgone conclusion, as hitherto attempts for hours becomes available in minutes, among other values.

Little wonder then that at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) last December in Geneva, one thing that top the agenda was the issue of deploying broadband at every nook and cranny to boost universal access, describing it as an "enabler".

Participants, hence, sought the regulation that should be directed at improving the long term interests of this technology for citizens. Pointing out that Broadband could contribute to universal access by improving and enabling education, information, and increased efficiency such as reducing costs, overcoming distances, opening up Information and Communication Technology (ICT) markets, enhancing understanding and creating employment.

The GSR forum ended by issuing an industry transforming best practice guidelines toward achieving low cost Broadband and internet connectivity.

According to the conference chairperson and a Commissioner at the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ms Kathleen Abernathy, "Broadband networks are the key to maximizing the promise of an evolving and converging ICT sector."

She noted that new wireless and converging technologies that are sure to follow can revolutionise societies and help to close the broadband divide that exists within and among countries of the world.

Director, ITU Development Bureau, Mr. Hamadoun I. Toure, while applauding GSR guidelines pointed out that technological innovations and market developments are forcing telecom regulators to rethink their regulatory practices.

Mr. Toure said, "in many ways they are pioneering innovative uses of technologies such as Broadband and the regulatory frameworks needed to support those innovations."

The GSR, attended by 54 heads of national regulatory bodies, encouraged regulators to educate and inform consumers about the services that are available to them and how to utilize same, "so that the entire population benefits".

It also tasked regulators to work with other government entities; industry, consumer groups and other stakeholders to ensure consumers have access to the information they need about Broadband and internet services.

They further urged member countries to adopt policies to increase access to the internet and Broadband services based on their own market structure, such that policies reflect diversity in culture, language and social interests.

Like the regulators pointed out, adoption of a regulatory regime that facilitates the use of all telecommunications transport mechanisms, be it wire line, power line, cable, wireless, including Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) or satellite; public access to broadband and internet services to schools, libraries and other community centers, should be of utmost importance.

Therefore, participants of all nations, were tasked to facilitate this dream through economies of scale and competition among Broadband vendors and service providers.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) led by Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, probably discovered this import, giving the impetus in organising a workshop on Broadband in April 2001.

Though technology evolution goes beyond workshops on Broadband to transform into action process, hence, much is needed to encourage service providers to embrace Broadband as the technology of the future, with lots of propects for developing continents like Africa, in keeping date with the future through ICT tools.