On 12/30/2015 03:06 PM, Geoffrey Oltmans wrote:
I can't speak for the whole Telco segment, but I work on DSLAMs for a living and have done so for the past 15 years. Our earliest generation DSLAMs were ATM based (T1 IMA fed), but within a couple of years transitioned to Ethernet. Almost all of the equipment that I come in contact with is Ethernet at this point, but I'm not on the front-lines and I don't have a lot of exposure to voice services though, but I think it is safe to say that telcos are vested pretty heavily in Ethernet these days.
Talking with the techs working on the DSLAM near my house, this summer, all said it was still ATM--and much of what went into the DSLAM was brand new. So someone is still making ATM gear.
Still, it's very clear that the big expense in telco is still that "last mile" Cabinets full of punch-down blocks and wire, wire, wire. Techs working for weeks with paper charts, one wire at a time.
I think the cable guys have it easy. --Chuck
