14 DAY TRIAL // Many would say that fiber optics are the only means through which truly fast Internet connections can be established these days, but Alcatel-Lucent begs to differ. It even have a technology to prove its point.
And by point we mean that they are convinced that old telephone lines can be used to provide truly fast Internet connections to everyone.
Internet through Telecom companies has been provided for years now, and the transfer rates are more or less decent, though nothing special.
Alcatel-Lucent is perfecting a new standard though, a standard that turbocharges existing phone lines, leading to speeds that rival those of fiber, despite the cable being the same old copper we're used to.
The standard is called G.fast and works by broadening the frequencies available on the copper lines and cutting down on interference.
The top transfer speed is 1.1 Gigabits per second, dropping to 500 Mbps when the distance exceeds 300 meters.
The technology works best over the distance between the telephone pole to the house, according to Technology Review.
Which brings us to the greatest advantage. If Alcatel-Lucent gets everyone on board with its idea, fiber optics will only need to be installed along the main lines.
Previously, to provide everyone in the US with fast Internet, this would have implied installing fiber wiring to every single house. That would have taken 10 to 20 years.
Now that old telephone wires can be used, however, no one will have to wait that long to download movies in seconds instead of hours.
The Alcatel-Lucent technology is already being tested and is expected to get approval from the International Telecommunications Union by 2015.
Needless to say, there is very little reason, if any, to go against the suggestion. Sure, Alcatel-Lucent will get lots of licensing revenue, but that's all part of the business.