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The requirement for an automated test system has immensely increased due to the realization that manual testing is associated with additional resources and staffing constraints. In order to achieve a competitive edge, reduced development cost, timely product delivery, and product quality are mandatory in today's organization. Manual testing requires skilled operators that increase cost, time, and product delivery. The low cost computer-based automated system helps to get an edge by fulfilling these organizational demands. In this paper, an automated testing system has been developed to support functional testing of all phases of Nortel Networks 1-Meg modem system as its system under test (SUT). The modem is an inherently complex asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) product and its testing is far more complex than just verification of process faults. The complexity of ADSL system renders automated test system an important and imperative part of ADSL testing. The subject paper demonstrates the indispensable need of automated test system for ADSL testing and its relative advantages in providing some benefit for the organization.

Digital subscriber line (DSL) is a service that offers much faster Internet connection than a standard dial up connection. Crosstalk is a major impairment in DSL telecommunication networks. It degrades the upstream and downstream data rates and risks the DSL service providers ability to meet their service level agreement requirements. A novel approach to solve the upstream and downstream data rate problems is presented in this paper. The approach considered is to control the power spectral density and aggregate power level of the DSL access multiplexer.

The case is particularly relevant for students studying elements of business strategy with an interest in strategic decision-making, competitive strategy, and growth strategy. The case leverages several strategic frameworks taught throughout business courses and illustrates a real-world application of these frameworks to support sound strategic decision-making. Furthermore, the case examines the relevance of sustainable competitive advantage and the linkages to the appropriate growth strategy for a business. It is recommended that this case be taught once students have covered the applicable theory and frameworks in class.

This case is designed for business administration students, in particular MBA, EMBA, speciality Masters, or executive education students.

MWEB is a leading first-tier South African internet services provider, with an operating history spanning over 22 years. The MWEB brand is a household name across South Africa, seen as one of the pioneers of the internet industry and accredited with bringing the internet to ordinary consumers across the country. The state of competition in the market, however, has intensified and MWEB's traditional operating model has not evolved fast enough to meet the changing landscape. The market is in the midst of a price war, to which MWEB has responded by reducing market pricing and offering attractive deals, undercutting all its competitors. The results have been positive; sales have increased and churn has reduced, but competitors have already started to follow. The dilemma facing CEO Sean Nourse and his management team is how to accelerate growth in a highly commoditised market with intense competition while ensuring the long-term profitability of the business. The case encourages the consideration of the strategic decision-making process by analysing the competitive landscape, evaluating the options, and reaching a decision on the most viable growth strategy for the business.

To analyse the competitive landscape and the forces at play

To conduct a competitor analysis, appraise long-term profitability in the industry, identify profitable strategic positions, and determine how MWEB may achieve and protect its competitive advantage

To identify and analyse the key parameters that, in combination, represent a company's business model

To critically analyse the contextual factors that are presented as business challenges, evaluating and understanding the impact and scale of these challenges

To critically assess relevant growth strategy alternatives for MWEB and analyse the viability of the alternatives presented

To conduct an informal valuation to determine a purchase price for an acquisition target for the business

Based on the work of TTG‐4, which defined and identified the various configurations, characteristics and patterns of deployment of broad bandwidth through DSL technology. Looks at tactical matters, implications of higher bandwidth services, home gateway products, and wireless as an increasing threat to profitable deployment of DSL.

Digital libraries are becoming vital in basic research and general surfing of the Internet and the Web. Unlike text‐based digital libraries, image intensive digital libraries have inherent problems of slow downloading and uploading. These bottlenecks are caused by low bandwidth at the “last mile”, the distance between the telecommunications carriers’ distribution center – or central office and the user premises. Telecommunications technologies which are commonly used to alleviate this problem are: high end analog modems, T… series, frame relay, ISDN, cable modems, digital subscriber line and satellites. The article summarizes the latest developments of these technologies and how they can be used by various types of information professionals and end‐users in accessing digital libraries.

The aim of this paper is to look at the extent to which the bandwagon effect played a part in digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband adoption combined with the regulatory measures, the slowdown in the cable industry and the changes within the telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom (UK). The dynamics of broadband deployment, broadband adoption against a real‐world supply‐demand equation and the factors that influenced the outcome in the UK are examined in detail.

This paper combines historic facts and socio‐economic analysis done from archival research and interview material to examine the outcome in which the less‐heralded copper DSL technology outpaced cable broadband adoption. The analysis delves into the influence of the bandwagon effect and the two types of outcome associated with it i.e. network externalities and the complementary bandwagon effects.

The paper argues that the deployment of broadband technologies in the UK has not taken place solely on the merits of the technology or factors such as speed, end‐user demand and costs. A combination of factors related to regulatory decisions, status of industry finances, commercial expediency, short‐term technical benefits and the bandwagon effect are argued to be at work.

The paper is useful for historians, policy makers, regulators and communications industry analysts given its focus on broadband deployment in the UK in correlation to the bandwagon economics.

There is growing concern that some groups without access to high‐speed broadband networks, e.g. those residing in rural and remote areas, will be unable to benefit from online education, health and government services, etc. Such concerns have led to arguments that universal service obligations (USOs) should be upgraded to include access to broadband. This paper reviews the arguments and concludes that, at this stage of broadband development and diffusion, there is no convincing case for USO‐type mandates. Since the case for broadband USOs should be intermittently revisited, the paper proceeds, nevertheless, to explore what would be involved in a systematic review of this issue.

Based on work by Technology Task Group 1 (TTE‐1) for the IEEE‐USA/Cornell workshop on US telecommunications’ evolution. States the task group’s activity focused on local access Contains discussions on how fibre optics are used today and can be used in the future. Touches also on the technical and non‐technical challenges that a fibre to the home or fibre to the building network may face.

Studies media convergence in Canada, arguing it has always been a possibility as change is not a consequence of new technologies but a shift from efforts to prevent cross‐media combinations, to initiatives that promote this aim. Sums up that media reconvergence and the information highway are at the top of the communications policy agenda, but how it will involve is unclear.

This article seeks to consider why broadband technologies have been so successful in reaching such a large number of new users so quickly, and what characteristics of its pricing have made this possible.

Examines the different pricing strategies available, and their impact on broadband markets and prices, as well as some of the issues involved in measuring broadband prices.

Pricing strategies have major implications for the future development of telecommunication markets, as they are dismantling the constructs on which telecommunication services have historically been priced (namely, distance, time and location). Broadband pricing strategies, especially the growing trend towards flat‐rate pricing, promise to transform the revenue streams and expansion of communication services in future.

The findings, based on analysis of a unique price database across 145 countries, will be of value to operators and regulators.