DSL steadies its course

Although interoperability and standards hurdles remain, DSL and its applications appear to be clearing them at a new breakneck pace. Last week's DSLCon show in Reston, Va., was peppered with continued interoperability agreements and improvements focused on bringing high-speed access to more users. Most equipment vendors and service providers have realized that deployable and interoperable equipment translates to more money for everyone involved.

DSL's current killer app, voice over DSL, has the industry buzzing. Now, the trio of providers - CopperCom, Jetstream Communications and Toll-Bridge Technologies - all seem to be nearing rollouts. So far, Jetstream has equipment installed in Network Plus' network, while CopperCom plans to deliver equipment to Picus Communications.

Although CopperCom has yet to ship its equipment to Picus, the vendor is expected to announce this week that it has signed an OEM agreement with Lucent Technologies, said Jennifer Stagnaro, vice president of marketing for CopperCom. "The joint product will ship in November in the U.S. and in early 2000 in Europe," Stagnaro said.

Both Jetstream and CopperCom have achieved interoperability with Vina Technologies' integrated access device. Jetstream also revealed plans to help service providers reach the residential market through its interoperability with 2Wire Communications' customer premises equipment, said David Frankel, chief technology officer at Jet-stream.

"This really opens up a whole new market for us," said Ken Kolderup, director of marketing for Jetstream. The residential market has been put aside, but that should change, he said.

As voice over DSL continues its gradual rollout, how will it all sort out? "One of the three will probably be bought by a big player and of the two remaining, one will be the leader and the other will fall into the `also' category," said Peter Meade, senior DSL analyst with Cahners In-Stat Group.