News

ADSL2+ Paving the Way for Future Technology

Valley Telephone has been providing Internet access in South Texas since 1999 when it first built its DSL network, creating a broadband highway that continues to provide high-speed Internet and other services to our customers. For some time VTCI has been working on a network upgrade to increase customer bandwidth and to enable new services. After much research, ADSL2+ was selected as the best way to do it.

ADSL2+, a modern implementation of the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line standard, is a broadband technology offering Internet access that is up to 500 times faster than a dial-up connection. This upgrade also adds features and functionality that supports new applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), as well as increases performance with faster data (Internet) connectivity.

A recent survey indicated that 90% of VTCI customers who only received broadcast channels (off-air channels) were interested in a video offering. The problem was that legacy ADSL gear wasn't up to the task. The deployment of ADSL2+ will create the infrastructure necessary for IPTV services, which combines the technologies of a computer network with the capabilities of a television set.

VTCI is please to be reaching the completion of the first phase of the ADSL2+ migration. The central offices in Lasara, Stillman, San Perlita, Port Mansfield, Hargill, McCook, San Isidro, La Gloria and El Sauz have already been upgraded. VTCI will upgrade the central offices of all remaining service areas with ADSL2+ technology in the second phase of the migration, expected to be complete by February 2007.