Convergence Conversation Info 5th February 2010

The information roundup - Friday 05 February 2010

Here's a selection from the blogs on convergenceconversation.com posted over the last two weeks. Read on to be informed, stimulated, agree or disagree; to add your comments - or to add your own blog!

What is the realistic comparison between FTTH and FTTC costs?
by Costas Troulos of Broadband Prime

Last week I read the latest WIK’s consulting report on NGA. The news coverage mentioned that a Germany-wide FTTH deployment would cost 120 billion euros and that an FTTC+VDSL deployment would cost approximately 40 billion euros. The news article did not make clear to the percentage of coverage these figures referred to.

The article ignited the discussion among colleagues but its findings were also discussed and commented in the popular broadband forum adslgr.com and elsewhere.

The 1:3 ratio implied for the deployment cost of FTTC/VDSL vs. More...

There Will Continue To Be Suicides In The Company...
by Benoît FELTEN of Yankee Group

I'm sure you all remember the media furore in France and elsewhere about the wave of suicides at France Telecom in the last 18 months. Back then I wrote a piece entitled Of Dinosaurs, Evolution and Suicides trying to explore the issue, it's causes and it's consequences.

Part of the political aftermath of the "suicide scandal" was that FT's number 2 Louis-Pierre Wenes was forced to resigned and was quickly replaced by Stéphane Richard, who is to take over from Didier Lombard as CEO in the coming months. More...

iYawn
by Dean Bubley of Disruptive Analysis

So is that it? A touchscreen tablet?

And $130 extra for a version with an embedded 3G module. So much for predictions that HSPA modems will be "as cheap as WiFi" within a couple of years.... And unless I've missed something, there isn't even a normal USB socket so you can use a regular cheap 3G dongle. I guess it would work OK with a MiFi-type modem though.

And what was Jobs thinking with a non-standard "microSIM" format? It's not like it's a small form-factor device that can't take a normal SIM card. More...

How to Profit from Cloud Computing?
by Simon Torrance of STL partners

Following from the success of the Cloud Computing sessions at the recent Telco 2.0 Executive Brainstorms, we'd recommend the Fifth Annual Parallels Summit to those looking to deepen their knowledge. It takes place on 22-24 February at the Fountainbleu Miami Beach Resort, Miami Beach, Florida. Parallels are offering free places (worth $3000) - see below.

Making money from, and best practices in, cloud services are the focus of the Summit, which aligns well with Telco 2.0's agenda.

Please visit the Parallels Summit 2010 web site to learn more here or register now here. More...

Rural Broadband Coalition & Colloquium
by Lindsey Annison of Fiver to the Home - Fibrevolution

The emphasis for the need to 'up the pace' on delivering rural connectivity increases by the day....

It seems that the message is slowly sinking in - it is time to stop talking and start doing. However, there is still a need to educate across all levels so that the right (political) decisions are made to deliver the required EndGame.

Dr Charles Trotman, CLA has just emailed regarding the need for a broadband coalition in order to get co-operation and collaboration in solving the problem. More...

Survey: What is the biggest challenge to the connected home proposition?
by Colin Batten of Intellect

Is it Coherent Policy; Consumer Confusion; Maintenance; Security Concerns; Spectrum Constraints; or Standardisation & Interoperability?

You can find the RESULTS so far and VOTE here. (voting options on the left hand side)

We'll post the results here shortly. More...