Decisions by both MCI and now Sprint to build their own networks will also help. Now, Sprint's primary approach will be to build our own broadband connecting facilities. Despite efforts by Sprint and MCI WorldCom, cable will still control 68 percent of the residential market for high speed Internet access by the years 2003, the report concludes. Cable modem service is priced more competitively than DSL right now. But DSL's penetration could increase if providers drop their rates further.
More bandwidth also means simultaneous tasks.
Sprint users will be able to conduct phone calls, Internet sessions, video conferences and data transfers over the same connection at the same time, without additional phone lines. Sprint, for its part, has yet to say what it will charge. But if they want to win market share, both companies will have to absorb much of the cost of their deluxe new networks, or risk losing customers to cable. Inc. All Rights Reserved.