An industry group has been formed to promote Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line technology for interactive multimedia services over copper telephone lines. The ADSL Forum has three main aims: to encourage the development of interoperable end-to-end Asymmetrical Subscriber Line-based systems; to define which services are suitable for the technology; and to encourage the technology’s deployment. The group says research by British Telecommunications Plc provides evidence of Asymmetrical Line’s suitability for a variety of applications. Specifically, it says that British Telecom has found that the technology is operable at greater than expected distances, up to three and three quarter miles at 2Mbps, and that Moving Pictures Expert Group coding is particularly suitable for use with it.British Telecom also reckons that the Asymmetrical Line technology is viable to use over 92% of its network. The ADL Forum is due to hold its next meeting in London this month, and is planning to alternate venues for its meetings between Europe and the US. It has already appointed a board of directors consisting of representatives from Bell Atlantic Corp, British Telecom, Ameritech Corp, US West Inc, Amati, Westell Inc, Orckit Ltd, Gorham and Partners, Motorola Inc, AT&T Corp’s Largo, Florida-based unit AT&T Paradyne, Independent Editions and Analog Devices Inc.
