The surge of multimedia developments continues apace, and yesterday, Digital Equipment Corp joined forces with start-up LANCity Corp, Andover, Massachusetts to announce a system for enabling high-speed multimedia data networking over ordinary cable television lines, putting implementers in direct competition with local phone companies. The system is based on Ethernet and enables multimedia data to be transmitted at 10Mbps over television operators’ coaxial cable channels, providing up to seven times the capacity of T-1 lines. Cable operators are expected to charge less than $500 a month for the lines, after installation charges, which compares favourably to the $500 to $700 cost of typical T-1 lines that provide far less capacity, the Wall Street Journal notes. DEC will offer services using the technology in partnership with cable companies, and will go after business, universities, local governments and hospitals that need to send data between computers at different sites within a city or town. The technology can connect sites up to 70 miles apart, DEC commented.
