Broadband communications: the commercial impact

Research carried out by Ovum for its report of the same title, published in 1987, is summarized and updated. The major technologies and commercial applications underlying the development of broadband communications are outlined, and the speed of its introduction is forecast. The picture emerging in the four countries studied here (the United States, United Kingdom, France and West Germany) is one of islands of fiber in major commercial centers. Once these are in place, it will not be too costly to introduce broadband switches, supporting niche applications on an overlay basis