Broadband Internet Access: ISDN or CATV?

Broadband Internet access for small business and home users in Europe is currently determined by the regulatory environment in their country and the penetration of cable in their area. There are, in principle, two possibilities to access broadband services on the Internet: ISDN and the cable TV network. The telephone network represents the edge in terms of availability, but it requires a dedicated, switched connection to the Internet service provider (ISP). With a cable-LAN architecture, users can have a 24-hour connection that they can access when required. Only the cable network itself has a connection to the ISP.

Both architectures are designed to provide a duplex, wideband service. Cable TV companies have the higher bandwidth, but they need to upgrade their infrastructure to enable two-way traffic, whereas ISDN is two-way. European cable operators will offer commercial Internet access in early 1997. In the meantime, while ISPs are starting to offer ISDN access at attractive rates, the 128 Kbps of two B-channels is the best most home users and small offices can get.

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Dueling Infrastructures

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In the future, small businesses and home users will be able to access broadband services on the Internet by either ISDN lines or a cable TV network. European cable operators will offer commercial Internet access in early 1997. As competition heats up, the cost of ISDN access will start to fall.