Conclusion

At the time of this writing, the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) of North America are losing thousands of lines per month, the first loss in coverage percentage-wise since the Great Depression. Most of the blame for these losses can be placed on cell phones. SBC Communications reports a loss of 3 million phone lines (called access lines) between 2000 and 2002; they say they will lose another 3 million lines in 2003.[18] Some local phone service providers claim this is due to an unfair regulatory regime where the RBOCs are forced to provide unbundled network elements (UNEs) at what they claim are disfavorable rates. Other market analysts point to a number of influences.

Cells phones have claimed a number of those landlines. Many subscribers find cell phones more convenient and have "cut the wire." The monthly subscription cost of a cell phone has dropped and many subscribers are dropping their landline accounts in favor of their cell phone. Questions regarding a comparison of the QoS landline versus a cell phone seem to weigh in favor of the cell phone's convenience over the landline's reputation for reliability and QoS.

Another explanation for one of the leading RBOCs' loss of almost 6 million lines in a little over 2 years is broadband. Given that the traditional 64 Kbps copper pair service provided to the majority of North American residences and small businesses was designed entirely for voice service with a limited data service capability (56 Kbps with 10 percent of households able to receive Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service at data rates around 256 Kbps), there does not appear to be an appreciable level of future-proofing built into the PSTN. Many DSL and cable TV subscribers have either taken up VoIP applications for their voice service or rely on cell phones for voice and their broadband connection for Internet access. In the case of DSL subscribers, they cancel second phone lines that they had with their phone company and use the primary line for both DSL and telephone. Cable subscribers cancel their landline altogether.

The key here is that consumers are constantly questioning the market and are willing to try alternative service providers. Many have already given up a wired phone for a wireless (cell) phone. Why then would they not give up copper wire access for wireless access delivering voice and high-speed data? In summary, 802.11 presents the best of all possible worlds for the small office/home office (SOHO) subscriber in providing telephony as good or better than the PSTN while delivering an overwhelming advantage in bandwidth.

[18]Vincent Vittore and Glenn Bischoff, "Access Line Count Evaporating," Telephony Magazine (October 14, 2002): 8.



Wi-Fi Handbook(c) Building 802.11b Wireless Networks
Wi-Fi Handbook : Building 802.11b Wireless Networks
ISBN: 0071412514
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 96

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