What is last mile solution mean?

Answer 1

The last leg of providing connectivity from a PSTN operator, ISP owner or Cable TV operator to a customer. Also called "First Mile" from subscriber point of view. Traditionally it is done by copper wires, you may find that connects your old telephone set to nearest telephone exchange. Copper wires carry analog signals generated by telephone equipment, including fax machines. Analog technology is by nature a less precise signaling technology than digital technology. Increasing demand for information access it became a big question to reach the unreachable.

Most subscribers, however, log on to this network through copper lines with limited capacity. This creates a bottleneck for advancing technologies that increasingly require greater bandwidth. Last-mile technology represents a major remaining challenge because the cost of providing high-bandwidth services to individual subscribers in remote areas can be higher than the service provider would like. Laying wire and fiber optic cables is an expensive undertaking that can be environmentally demanding and require high maintenance. Wireless networks will eventually provide the solution. Existing last-mile solutions are:

* Plain Old Telephone Systems (POTS), fixed copper wire.

* ISDN, a somewhat faster technology than regular phone service. Not so popular.

* Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) (or ADSL) over existing telephone twisted pair lines. very popular

* cable and the Cable modem, for data, using the same installed coaxial cable that already is used for television

* wireless (WLL, Wi-fi, Wi-Max) and including satellite services such as Direct TV * Optical fiber and its transmission technologies, therefore FTTH/FTTB (fiber to the home/Fiber to the Building).

:By Aminul Hassan

Telecom Engr., Bangladesh.

aminul_h@Yahoo.com