Recently, in a collaborative effort, a few major telecommunications companies published a paper showcasing the advantages of wireless, fiber optic, satellite, and coaxial cable technologies for connectivity, as the current copper networks around the nation are breaking down and becoming obsolete with new technology. Per a Fiber Broadband Association article, “The paper, ‘Meeting the Needs of Rural Subscribers for Generations to Come,’ is a collaborative effort among key players in the high-speed internet service ecosystem highlighting the urgency behind the expansion of broadband access and the need to phase out outdated, legacy copper networks.”
The three major broadband leaders, Calix Inc, Corning Incorporated, and Brightspeed, all worked together in authoring the paper. The paper comes at an integral moment as broadband infrastructure funding is the highest it has ever been, majorly due to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.
“These unprecedented levels of grant funding, coupled with providers’ own strategic investment, will help connect communities that have lacked quality options for high-speed connectivity as they historically have been served by aging copper networks. The overall goal – consistent with the national strategy for increasing U.S. competitiveness, is to provide these communities with access to alternative communications technology, especially fiber broadband network connectivity.”
The paper covers the most utilized communication technologies among which are copper, fiber wireless, low Earth orbiting (“LEO”) satellite, and coaxial cable while also determining if these technologies meet current and future user needs and application requirements. The paper gives insight into the limitations of copper at this time and how some of these other technologies can meet current and future needs.
“For decades, copper served Americans well — providing the lines of communication needed to reach our loved ones near and far. That was before the arrival of new applications and use cases that need higher speeds and more bandwidth,” said Tom Dailey, Brightspeed senior vice president, public policy, government affairs and regulatory. “Now, it’s time to invest in the technologies that will serve Americans for decades to come by providing the robust connectivity they need to connect to work, stream entertainment, learn, receive telehealth and government services, and fully participate in our hyper-connected world. Copper is the past; fiber, fixed wireless and satellite solutions are the future.”
“Subscribers everywhere are focused on having a great broadband experience—they want highly reliable connectivity that meets today’s needs, while ensuring they stay safe and protected from digital threats,” said Teresa McGaughey, vice president of global field and partner marketing at Calix.
“Fiber optic networks provide unlimited connectivity, enabling subscribers to work, learn, and play from home without interruption—joining video calls while their children complete school projects online. These future-proof networks deliver seamless, secure productivity today and unlock a host of exciting possibilities to add managed services that will enable communities to further grow.”
“As more of our lives take place in the digital world, it’s critical to phase out copper networks built for the landline era and invest in future-ready technologies like optical fiber,” said Bob Whitman, vice president of global market development, carrier networks, for Corning Optical Communications. “With its virtually unlimited bandwidth, fiber can support not only today’s technologies like video streaming, telehealth and remote work, but also AI, machine learning, and cutting-edge applications that haven’t yet been imagined. As the inventors of low-loss optical fiber, Corning is helping operators everywhere build networks that will serve the needs of their customers for generations to come.”
“Meeting the Needs of Rural Subscribers for Generations to Come” notes that although copper has been a foundational technology for voice and data services, its shortcomings make it not really suitable for the modern day’s high-speed internet demand. Fiber optic technology has higher reliability, improved security, faster speeds, and lower maintenance costs than copper and is flexible enough to be expanded upon in the future. For certain difficult situations where copper might not be the most cost-effective option, fixed wireless and LEO satellites are worthy substitutes to provide high-speed and reliable internet access.
