Publication Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Fiber vs. wireless?
Fiber vs. wireless?
(February 11, 2004)One of the biggest risks for a locally-owned fiber-optic system is the chance it could become obsolete before the $35 million-plus investment is repaid, which is estimated to take 15 years.
"That's a hell of a long time in the technology business," said Utility Advisory Commission member Dexter Dawes.
Palo Alto Utilities Director John Ulrich insists newer technologies "are really compatible as oppose to being competitive with fiber."
The up-and-coming technology most frequently mentioned as a potential competitor is wireless, which transmits data through microwave-radio frequencies. It's especially useful for portable electronic devices, and is already provided for free at local libraries and cafes.
Wireless systems have capacity restrictions, though, as do the copper lines that many Internet users today rely upon.
Comcast, fiber advocates noted with some glee last week, recently sent out warning letters to customers that congested the system by using high amounts of broadband.
"That's a limitation we just don't suffer with that strand of glass," said Rick Ferguson, a former utility commissioner who insists that fiber optics is "future-proof."
"Once you have the fiber in, you have the ability to put in as much as bandwidth as you could ever need," noted Mark Heyer, who has managed the fiber trial for the city.
Technically, the 70-household trial has been a tremendous success, Heyer noted.
"I'm the Maytag repair man," he said. "There has not been one network failure. None. The fiber is dead-nuts reliable. It doesn't go down."
-- Bill D'Agostino
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