Scott Brim <swb@newbridge.com> writes:
I believe it's IP/PPP/ATM/DSL to the home, and IP/Tag/ATM/Sonet in the backbone.
That is about as succinctly put as can be, but I didn't get the impression that all apps would run over one stack. There seems to be room for an ATM API in the announcement, but no explicit mention. The most radical change for an established telco like Sprint is that Sprint has seen the light from the Great Crossover ahead and decided it is best and cheapest to run voice calls over packet or cell than over separate switched networks. It's getting to be a no-brainer decision, unless the guys in the domed building in WDC eliminate switched network access charges to the incumbents, which is apparently unlikely. So all voice moves to packet/cell ASAP to avoid switched network call termination charges as much as possible. Really a forced migration in terms of business costs, since the termination charges in the one to three cent/minute range are enormous compared to the cost of a packet voice call.
Are there any expected dates for deployment?
Given the timeframe to get multi-megabit copper or DSL from the incumbents and the fact that within that timeframe qos-IP/DWDM/fiber equipment will cost about 10% of IP/ATM/SONET/DWDM/fiber, I would say "never" is most likely. Of course, they can deliver this to "big corporate customers" on bypass right now, so perhaps the answer is "now". But "never" to the small business and residential market. --Kent