Broadband Services

Ubiquitous access to the internet is essential to prevent the deepening of modern society's 'digital divide'. Remote communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to seeking better education, better jobs, and higher levels of civic participation. Governments around the world have recognised the damage the 'digital divide' can create, and have initiated programmes to encourage communities to build and manage their own broadband access networks. Yet creating a network infrastructure to serve outlying communities is not straightforward. Broadband Services brings together all aspects of the problem - technical, regulatory and economic - into one comprehensive volume. It contains inclusive coverage of the emerging business and technology models for broadband networks, and discusses innovations and challenges in the related technology fields, as well as the legal framework and business models for home user and community networks. The holistic approach of Broadband Services Encompasses business, regulatory and economic issues as well as technical solutions. Discusses business models for FTTx, as well as for dark fiber/metro fiber/municipal fiber networks. Presents cutting-edge technologies, such as xDSL, FTTx and Ethernet, cable networks, and broadband wireless access and illustrates how to implement them to best effect. Includes a section on business models and case studies from North America and Europe demonstrating that solutions are economically and practically viable. Provides network engineers, planners and designers, as well as researchers, students, and academics, with an integrated view of the applications, business considerations and technology aspects of delivering broadband services to business, public and residential users.