Experience from early applications of broadband professional communications

The author reports on experience gained in Italy from some early applications of broad band professional communications in the sectors of telemedicine tele-education, electronic publishing and industrial design and manufacturing. Network elements and architecture are based on proven technologies related to a prebroadband ISDN (integrated services digital network) environment. It is concluded that the business-driven approach represents a valuable path to follow for short-term introduction of broadband services; it allows a better understanding of user demands in terms of applications. Some categories of professional users can economically justify the introduction of a broadband infrastructure in the distribution network, without the need for a `dogmatic´ technology-driven approach