The short answer is that VZcan deliver xDSL over copper with the right equipment. Here's how, with a bit of history first:
Originally, POTS (plain old telephone service) was delivered out of COs (central offices) with a twisted pair going to each customer. This is known as the local loop and typically covered a 3 mile radius from the CO. As switches became saturated and neighborhoods/businesses sprang up further from the CO, the question of how to deliver POTS to these outlying areas came up. Building more COs at several million $ each was not cost effective.
This dilemma was very much like the xDSL problem the telcos are faced with today with DSLAMS that extend 15-18 kft. The solution to the original local loop problem is also the solution to the xDSL loop limit. In the case of POTS, DLCs (digital loop carriers) are used to extend the reach of the CO by placing remote terminals just about anywhere -- as long as you can feed that terminal with copper or fiber (and their inherent distance limitations).
DLCs have evolved into an alphabet soup of features and acronyms (NGDLC, MSAP, IMAP, etc). The current IMAPs (integrated multiservice access platform) deliver nearly any type of analog or data service over copper, fiber, and RF.
So, with an IMAP, VZ can deliver that xDSL service (which is ATM-based) over copper or fiber or RF. In this configuration, the DSLAM is pushed out to the remote terminal. There's no reason ATM traffic can't be transported over copper -- it happens all the time! The challenge is having the equipment to handle the conversion between electrons and photons (among other things). If you can put that equipment (hardened) in a remote terminal, then the sky's the limit as long as the customer is within the range of the remote terminal.
If you want to know more about this, check into SBC's Project Pronto. SBC has selected two DLC/IMAP vendors (AFC & Alcatel) to provide equipment for a digital overlay. Verizon is reported to be very interested in AFC's xDSL solution (essentially a DSLAM on a card), as well. Another good source for the technically curious is WebProForum.
FWIW, I have installed Mandrake 7.2 and 8.0b3 on my laptop with the Rage Mobility chipset - with no video problems.
Mandrake 7.2 has a few other problems with my machine (sound, usb wheel mouse), and Mandrake 8.0b3 is, of course, beta...
RedSavina
Acer TM602TER
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Originally, POTS (plain old telephone service) was delivered out of COs (central offices) with a twisted pair going to each customer. This is known as the local loop and typically covered a 3 mile radius from the CO. As switches became saturated and neighborhoods/businesses sprang up further from the CO, the question of how to deliver POTS to these outlying areas came up. Building more COs at several million $ each was not cost effective.
This dilemma was very much like the xDSL problem the telcos are faced with today with DSLAMS that extend 15-18 kft. The solution to the original local loop problem is also the solution to the xDSL loop limit. In the case of POTS, DLCs (digital loop carriers) are used to extend the reach of the CO by placing remote terminals just about anywhere -- as long as you can feed that terminal with copper or fiber (and their inherent distance limitations).
DLCs have evolved into an alphabet soup of features and acronyms (NGDLC, MSAP, IMAP, etc). The current IMAPs (integrated multiservice access platform) deliver nearly any type of analog or data service over copper, fiber, and RF.
So, with an IMAP, VZ can deliver that xDSL service (which is ATM-based) over copper or fiber or RF. In this configuration, the DSLAM is pushed out to the remote terminal. There's no reason ATM traffic can't be transported over copper -- it happens all the time! The challenge is having the equipment to handle the conversion between electrons and photons (among other things). If you can put that equipment (hardened) in a remote terminal, then the sky's the limit as long as the customer is within the range of the remote terminal.
If you want to know more about this, check into SBC's Project Pronto. SBC has selected two DLC/IMAP vendors (AFC & Alcatel) to provide equipment for a digital overlay. Verizon is reported to be very interested in AFC's xDSL solution (essentially a DSLAM on a card), as well. Another good source for the technically curious is WebProForum.
FWIW, I have installed Mandrake 7.2 and 8.0b3 on my laptop with the Rage Mobility chipset - with no video problems. Mandrake 7.2 has a few other problems with my machine (sound, usb wheel mouse), and Mandrake 8.0b3 is, of course, beta... RedSavina Acer TM602TER