Re: MOU with the MOT
- From: JosephMo <josephmouhanna@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 16 May 2007 12:49:18 -0700
If I may, I'll add my $0.02 here. The topic is very confusing, seeing
that we're dealing with a mix or technology, abscence of regualtions,
and an overwhelming legacy.
1. There is a small set of data service providers in Lebanon (5 or 6,
depending on who you ask). These are the only companies authorized to
provide data services. These data providers can be either wholesalers
or retailers. XO mentioned a minister's son as owner of one of these
companies. Not to pick a fight with XO, but this is *only* a rumor
(although in Lebanon, politicians' families have been known to make
small investments all over the place).
2. A regulatory board is now in place, but it will take some time to
create regulations, and to open up the market.
3. Instead of waiting for all the pieces to fall into place, the
existing data providers were empowered to start providing DSL services
(equiment was bought more than a year ago, and promsied were made).
4. DSL, as BM explained, does not require new wiring to the home to be
installed (see note below). What's required is equipment to be
installed in the central office (see second note below), and in the
home. Therefore, it makes sense for all to be granted access to the
wiring (the same thing happens in the US, but a fee is paid in return
for use of the wiring, and miscellaneous central office facilities,
power, etc. and in Lebanon the data providers are charged a fee).
5. The end user will buy DSL service from one of the data providers
(or their distributors), who in turn will activate the line in the
central office (there are a number of ways to do this), and sell the
subscriber a DSL modem.
6. It seems as Ogero has an adequate fiber infrastructure inter-
connecting *some* central offices, but it is by no means complete, and
is complemented via fixed wireless links (you see those all over
Lebanon).
7. DSL requires a clean wire between the central office and the home.
Problems may surface since lines were not conditioned for DSL service
as of about 6 months ago (removal of coils, amplifiiers, improper
slicing, proper length, etc.).
8. In between the lines, you should read that this is not a long term
solution. The data service providers bought a *limited* quantity of
modems, to service those who can afford it now (and what they're
offering is not really affrordable). The longer term solution is not
the technology being installed today. I do not blame them for picking
what they did, as longer term investments require a more stable
political situation, and a willingness on the part of who control
certain areas by force to open up.
9. Yes, there are cable modem vendors, and what they offer is superior
to DSL. The problem is when you get to the point of connecting to the
open Internet (Yahoo, Google, Hotmail, etc.). Having DSL is *not*
going to fix that problem. Removing the virtual naval blockade might
(it might entice some people to invest in new fiber links -- the
CADMUS story is for PR purposes, and does not really solve the
problem).
Note 1: technically, the existing copper wiring can be used with no
modifications. In practical terms, and in some places in the US, more
than 75% of the copper wiring had to be either replaced, or fixed to
remove components that choke the DSL signal. Lebanon should expect to
see a percentage of lines not to be ready for DSL. That percentage is
dependent on how good of a job Ogero's contractors did when they
rehabilitated the telephony network in 1993-1995.
Note 2: equipment does not have to strictly be inside the central
office, but the least expensive way would be to place it there.
On May 15, 10:49 pm, m-e-d-a-w-...@xxxxxxxxx (BM) wrote:
In article <1179289811.788111.298...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Lebnani <seeq12...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
For those of us who do not live in Lebanon and who are not tech-savvy
in Internet cable acronyms, could you please
explain what is happning in simple terms? It seems that nepotism is
playing a big role, but nobody is talking about it in clear language,
it is all tongue-in-cheek.
For DSL to work you need:
- A line provider - furnishes the wires to the house
- A DSL provider - installs DSL equipment in central offices (CO)
and manages DSL connectivity
- An Internet provider - that connects you to the internet, routes your
email, etc.
They don't have to be served by the same company. People easily get
confused between the three functions. Each function requires an initial
investment by the provider and day-to-day support. That's why the DSL pie
is divided. The bottom line is that there should be open market
competition. Open competition drives prices down and makes nepotism
unprofitable.
In the case of Lebanon, there is no extra investment in wires because the
services will be run over *existing* telephone wires. Some new investment
is fiber cable installation is need to upgrade a CO capacity (between the
CO and another central point that ties the CO to the phone network).
DSL services require DSL equipment to be located in Central Offices.
Apparently only a few CO's have so far been equiped and mopre is on the
way.
Even having a DSL signal, does not guarantee internet service. You need an
ISP to manage the internet connectivity portion of the DSL service.
bassem
.
- References:
- MOU with the MOT
- From: xopowo
- Re: MOU with the MOT
- From: Lebnani
- Re: MOU with the MOT
- From: BM
- MOU with the MOT
- Prev by Date: ADL Decries Chicago Cemetery Vandalism
- Next by Date: Re: The 2 Ziads
- Previous by thread: Re: MOU with the MOT
- Next by thread: Lebanese cabinet enjoys the support of the majority of Lebanese and the world
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
