 | October 1, 2000 |
Stretching copper
ADVANCE: Extending DSL’s reach and rate
For every happy DSL customer, you’re likely to find 10 unhappy people who wish they were customers. These folks either can’t get DSL, because of their distance from the carrier’s central office (CO), or can get it, but only at a significantly slower data rate.
Today, carriers are taking a brute-force approach to the problem by adding DSLAMs (DSL access multiplexers) in DLC (digital loop carrier) equipment between the CO and the subscriber. But that's costly and time consuming. Voyan Technology aims to extend the reach of DSL using technology that costs around $10 per DSL line.
Voyan's strategy: mitigate interference, the enemy that limits both DSL's reach (to 15,000 feet or less) and its data rate. Interference takes many forms, from ingress noise created by appliances like microwaves to crosstalk and other types of noise generated within communications equipment. In real time, a Voyan-equipped DSL IC can recognize a noise signature and thereafter filter it from the line.
In engineering terms, Voyan promises to increase the signal-to-noise ratio on the DSL line by 3 dB or more. Practically, that could extend DSL's reach by 20 to 25 percent. As for data rates, customers already well within DSL range might see a modest 10 to 15 percent improvement. But customers on the edges of DSL range could enjoy a 200 to 400 percent gain.
For carriers, the technology promises to boost subscriber numbers without additional equipment investment. Voyan cites a case study in which the number of serviceable customers increased from 6 million to 7 million. Over five years in this study, Voyan says, the technology could increase carrier revenue by $1.4 billion, but would cost a relative pittance of $60 million.
Voyan says DSL chip vendors will add Voyan blocks to their transceivers, and equipment vendors will employ Voyan software to simplify diagnostics, maintenance, and even deployment. The company plans to announce its first partners by year's end, with deployment beginning in the second half of 2001.
Voyan isn't alone in trying to improve broadband communications over existing media. Aware announced its Dr DSL technology aimed at diagnostics and deployment back at June's Supercomm. Earlier this year, Broadcom acquired Digital Furnace, which is engaged in improving communications over cable. Voyan also claims it can apply its interference-management technology to wireless links.
—Maury Wright
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