The kicker is that unlike conventional ADSL, the bandwidth of the High-Speed VDL 3.1 is not degraded by distance. Thus, all subscribers, regardless of their distance away from the COT, enjoy reliable, symmetric throughput when surfing the World Wide Web. System components are temperature hardened, making them ideal for installation in remote configurations. High-speed multiplexers offer a prime opportunity for carriers to add new and upgraded services to subscribers, especially SOHO customers. Without the expense of laying new copper, a carrier can leverage their existing copper investment and provide immediate fulfillment of customer orders.
Subscribers save as well because no desktop modem is required.
As competition to provide high-speed Internet access to business and residential customers intensifies, carriers willing to embrace new advances in multiplexing technologies will have the advantage over carriers whose approach is to just plow more cable. The Plow More Cable strategy often involves long lead times, which will only add to the frustration already harbored by the many would-be DSL subscribers already on waiting lists. Another obstacle with this strategy is the cost involved. Adding more lines is prohibitively expensive in legacy urban infrastructure, and not a viable solution in outlying areas. For outside plant professionals, high demand for DSL services and aggressive deployment schedules have meant longer hours in the field and added stress.