Several forces are converging to elevate the strategic importance of access. To begin with, the increasing market penetration of PCs in developed and developing countries is creating demand for new data communications services, particularly Internet access. The Internet has spawned a generation of Web surfers who are impatient with sluggish response and download times. In fact, for growing numbers of people, the only acceptable network connection speed is the fastest connection possible. At the same time, new bandwidth-hungry applications boost demand.
Users constantly crave greater access bandwidth.
Another factor making access more important is technology. New technologies are producing a glut of bandwidth in the backbone part of the telecom network the part that interconnects the various elements of the access network. This is a key enabler of the Internet phenomenon. Today, customers know that there is an ocean of information, entertainment and communication opportunities in the Internet backbone at very attractive prices, if only they can get connected to it at reasonable speeds. Lately, building the backbone has been a fast route to riches.