Copper load of this: Cisco claims cure for bandwidth woes

Cisco Systems is claiming to have come up with an answer for organisations which want to deploy high bandwidth multimedia applications without replacing their copper infrastructure.

The company's long reach ethernet (LRE) technology runs on existing telephone wires, but offers simultaneous delivery of voice, video and data services at rates from 5 to 15Mbps. LRE is limited to a range of 5,000 feet, and so is aimed at organisations using 'multi unit buildings' - in particular education, healthcare and industrial campuses. Ian Milne, manager of Cisco product marketing, said: "Places with a high concentration of people stand to benefit. University campuses, hospitals and hotels are amongst the major targets." Shah Talukder, director of marketing in Cisco's broadband solutions unit, said in a statement: "With this generous bandwidth, service providers and building owners can offer lucrative broadband services at a very reasonable price. Talukder added: "LRE will change the fundamental economics of last-mile access and service provision."