An investigation into the economic impact of low-powered, digital radio in the telephone distribution plant

The author investigates the economic advantages of the application of multiplexing in local loops serving subscribers in a newly developed subdivision. The loop facility to accomplish this is a combination of digital multiplexed cable carrier systems from the central office to various radio ports strategically located in the serving area and low-powered, digital, multiple access radio links to connect the subscribers to the radio ports. To evaluate the cost advantages of multiplexing in every section of the local loop, the cost of a digital cable carrier/radio facility was compared to that of a conventional metallic-based facility with multiplexing only in the feeder portion of the loop. It is shown that the radio technology, with its ability to bring the cost advantages of multiplexing into the distribution plant, has the potential of being a viable alternative to a conventional metallic cable facility. The degree of attractiveness depends upon the system application (fixed or portable) and the system design (number of radio ports required)