Evolution in Broadband Technology and Future of Wireless Broadband - Adoption, Usage, and Global Impact of Broadband Technologies - page 217

defines BB as a transmission capacity that is
faster than primary rate of ISDN at greater than
1.5 or 2.0 Mbit/s. However, this definition is not
strictly followed (ITU 2006). The Organization
of Economic Cooperation (OECD) considers
BB to correspond to transmission speed equal
to or greater than 256 Kbit/s. The U.S. Federal
Communication Commission (FCC) has defined
BB as starting at 200 Kbit/s and ITU currently
use the definition of BB as a combined capacity
(upstream and downstream) totaling 256 Kbit/s or
more. Finally, National Research Council (NRC,
2002) proposes keeping its specification altogether
open allowing it to evolve with the technological
dynamics of transmission mechanism and chang-
ing consumers' needs of transmission speeds.
Empirical observation on BB services around
the world indicates that these services can be
delivered through a number of different wired
and wireless network technologies. These access
technologies differ among themselves by their
corresponding cost of deployment and function-
ality. The commonly known access technologies
deployed are Digital Subscriber line (DSL) and
Cable modem. These technologies are primarily
for providing fixed BB access service and can be
referred to as evolved stages of existing network
infrastructures 5 that require less cost for imple-
mentation in comparison to building a completely
new wired infrastructure. DSL technology allows
to transfer data faster over traditional copper
telephone lines whereas cable modem perform
the same function using the coaxial cables that
deliver pictures and sounds to TV sets. Power line
and Rail line communications 6 are other options
for fixed BB which can leverage existing power
line infrastructure and railway infrastructure re-
spectively. Delivering BB over Power line (BPL)
is an emerging technology currently available in
very limited areas. However, BPL is a potential
BB platform for future and IEEE are working on
defining its new high speed standard. On the other
hand, Fiber optic cable is a newer technology
available to provide fixed BB and can transmit

data at speed far exceeding current DSL and Cable
modem speeds, typically by tens or even hundreds
of Mbit/s. The actual speed the user experiences
depends on a variety of factors such as how close
to the user's computer the service providers are
bringing the fiber and how the service providers
configure the services including the bandwidth
to be used. However, deployment cost for this
technology is much higher than providing service
through DSL or Cable modem and thus requires
for relatively significant amount of investment
before serving as an effective channel for transmis-
sion of information. With recent demand for high
bandwidth, reduced price for fiber optic cables
and increased competition from cable providers
for VOIP service, telecommunication companies
in many countries have deployed a significant
amount of fiber optic network of different forms
such as Hybrid Fiber Copper (HFC), Fiber-to-
the-Curb (FTTC), Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH)
etc during the years 2007 through 2009 and are
continuing that momentum into the year 2010 7 .
In addition to the wired BB technology, satel-
lite and terrestrial wireless technologies are also
capable of providing high speed BB Internet ac-
cess to users. Satellite technology is being used to
deliver Internet access to the very remote regions
of the world. These technologies provide viable
options to rural and remote areas of the world
which has no other BB access options.
Theoretically, wireless technology provides
high speed BB access service to users by connect-
ing homes and businesses to the Internet using
a radio link between the user's location and the
service provider's facility and can support users
both at stationary or mobile state. However, actual
adoption of such service depends on demand and
supply side factors. In recent years, we have been
observing an increase in the deployment of broad-
band access networks around the world. However,
successful deployment and adoption of wireless
BB access in any country depends on availability
of well developed backhaul infrastructure.