| France T�l�com is currently deploying ADSL technology in several towns in France and testing other technologies (such as VDSL) in field trials. These techniques allow high-bit rates (from 500kbit/s for residential to several Mbit/s for business) for the delivery of broadband services such as high speed Internet access, networking, etc. The aim of telecommunications operators is to distribute all these services to the Customer Premises Network (CPN), to the home of the residential customer as well as the Local Area Network (LAN) of the business customer. The French company has recently announced that it will take a series of wide-ranging initiatives, making broadband Internet available to everyone in France through five concrete commitments:
- The set-up of central offices (local exchanges) to provide ADSL access as rapidly as possible when service is requested by at least 100 customers in a given local area;
- The equipment of all central offices of over 1,000 lines (which serve areas with about 2,000 inhabitants) with ADSL access equipment by 2005;
- Satellite broadband Internet solutions available as of September 2003 for residential customers, businesses and municipalities in remote areas;
- To launch trials of alternative broadband technologies in summer 2003 to meet customer demand throughout the country;
- France T�l�com regional offices will pursue these initiatives in close liaison with local and regional authorities to assess customer demand and deliver responses adapted to broadband Internet needs.
France T�l�com estimates that the ADSL customer base will exceed 3 million by the end of 2003 and that ADSL coverage will reach 90% of the population by 2005. �Broadband is a compelling challenge for France T�l�com, both as a key to enhancing the competitiveness of our business customers, and also as a means of facilitating access to knowledge and information for everyone�, commented Mr Thierry Breton, France T�l�com chairman and chief executive officer. �France is currently number two in Europe in the number of broadband connections. We need to go further and accelerate initiatives. Making high-speed Internet access available nation-wide is a compelling challenge, and France T�l�com has a history of guiding successful transformations, such as the introduction of automatic telephone switches in the 1970s, or the Minitel revolution in the 1980s. Our objective is very clear: make broadband Internet available to everyone�, Mr Breton added.
To carry out this intensive programme, France T�l�com will invest 600 million euros over three years to deploy ADSL technology on the French telephone network. The company will multiply the number of ADSL units (DSLAMs) installed in local telephone exchanges by a factor of more than 2.5 (8,000 DSLAMs in 2005, compared with 3,000 today). An additional 7,500km of fibre optic links will also be installed. The programme will also be extended and adjusted to meet demand from all customers who want broadband Internet service and who are connected to central offices with at least 1,000 lines. In addition, in September 2003 France T�l�com will begin marketing three bi-directional satellite broadband Internet solutions designed for consumers and businesses in areas with partial or no ADSL service coverage:
- "Pack Surf Satellite", a customised solution that lets users select their ISP while benefiting from superior quality broadband service;
- Ol�ane SAT that covers both Internet access solutions and Intranets;
- Wanadoo Pro Sat, which will provide the same services as Wanadoo Pro ADSL offers, but without geographic restrictions.
Photo: France T�l�com ADSL network in the �Ile-de-France� jurisdiction (Paris and suburbs) � By courtesy of France T�l�com - � Jacques Valat
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