Emerging high-speed xDSL access services: architectures, issues, insights, and implications

High-speed asymmetric and symmetric digital subscriber line loop access systems, designed by numerous computer networking and telecommunications equipment companies, are currently the focus of technical trials, market trials, and commercial services deployment around the world. This is to provide millions of residential and business customers worldwide with high-speed always-on connectivity to the Internet, corporate intranets, and various online services. It is estimated that over 460 million copper loops worldwide could potentially be equipped end-to-end with xDSL access systems. Large-scale deployment of broadband access systems offering always-on connectivity to the global Internet and corporate intranets is seen as a key enabler of the bold vision articulated worldwide to utilize open Internet protocols and emerging technologies such as Java to create a unified software-defined (IP) global networking infrastructure. Such a networking platform would serve as a de facto medium for generation and delivery of integrated multimedia content, and revolutionize the way people around the world learn, do business, and interact with each other