Photonic Sourcing

IGI Announces New Advanced Access Architecture Report - "Overbuild: The New RBOC Advanced Access Architecture Strategy?"

Verizon is currently placing fiber cable for Advanced Access Architecture (FiOS) in AT&T franchise areas in north Texas. They expect to start offering service in these areas in direct competition with existing cable companies and AT&T late in 2008. This is probably the first time that the RBOCs have directly competed with each other in residential services. It may sound a note that can drastically change the industry.

In June of this year, the Texas PUC issued an order approving Verizon's request to extend its "State-issued Certificate of Franchise Authority" to 12 new areas immediately outside Verizon's Texas franchise and inside AT&T's franchise. Shortly thereafter, they began extending fiber from their existing FiOS-equipped central offices to relatively nearby areas in these newly acquired franchise areas.

In recognition of the possible overriding importance of this development, Information Gatekeepers Inc. (IGI) has commissioned Clif Holliday to expand their group of reports on Advanced Access Architectures to include a new report on this overbuild activity. The new report, which will be out before the end of the year, is to be entitled "Overbuild: The New RBOC Advanced Access Architecture Strategy?"

Holliday commented, "It happens that this overbuild activity is taking place in my home town of Colleyville, Texas (and elsewhere). All I have to do is look out my office window to see what may be the biggest change in residential telecommunications since the Carterphone decision. It is interesting that, although Verizon still refers to this as an 'experiment,' they have already developed the in-house nomenclature 'NOOF' - Near Out-of-Franchise - for the activity. Our new report will look at the possible ramifications of this overbuild; the strategic drivers of overbuild; who will benefit, and who will be harmed; the likely telecommunication company winners and losers; areas of the country that may be candidates for overbuilding; and the positioning elements that could make this a nationwide phenomenon."

This new report focusing on AAA overbuild report is a companion to:

• "Advanced Access Architectures 2008: AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest Plans and Forecasts"
  
• "FTTP/FTTN: The RBOCs' Advanced Access Architectures - Equipment and Fiber Requirements"
  
• "Cost Analysis of RBOCs' Advanced Access Architectures: FTTP, FTTN, FTTC"
• "Bandwidth Needs Analysis of the RBOCs' Advanced Access Architectures: FTTP and FTTN"

Information Gatekeepers' president, Dr. Paul Polishuk, concluded, "IGI has long recognized the Advanced Access Architecture thrusts of the major US carriers as some of the most important events in telecommunications history. As such, IGI has been periodically issuing major reports on the FTTP/FTTN activities of the RBOCs since they began in 2003. Earlier this year, we issued 'Advanced Access Architectures - 2008: AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest Plans and Forecasts,' the most comprehensive of our reports on this subject. In recognition of the wide interest and deep importance of the FTTP/FTTN phenomena, we are now issuing a series of reports that focus on narrower aspects of Advanced Access Architectures.

"Overbuild: The New RBOC Advanced Access Architecture Strategy?" is currently available for pre-order on Information Gatekeepers, Inc.'s website. A 20% discount. is being offered on all orders recieved on or before January 1, 2009.

For more information, interviews with Dr. Paul Polishuk or Clifford Holliday, please contact:

Jaime Perez
Information Gatekeepers Inc. 320 Washington Street, Suite 302 Boston, MA 02135 617-782-5033, Fax 617-782-5735 fulfill@igigroup.com