MAPC PRO
Metropolitan Area Planning Council is a regional planning agency promoting smart growth and regional collaboration for the Metro Boston area.
Journey Through the Internet
February 2022, MAPC
Let's start
our journey around the internet
outside a home in Everett, MA
Zooming into this location, we can see a lot of equipment just outside of the home. What is all of this stuff?
We have several items, each serving a different purpose.
Let's highlight a few.
Satellite
Cell & 5G
Street light
Power!
Cable & Fiber
Phone/ Telecom
Same telephone pole back in 2011.
Significant expansion as we have come to rely on more technology.
Home Computer
Home Router
ISP Network & Equipment
ISP Network Technologies
Fiber: Uses light signals to carry internet data. Limited availability, capable of much higher speeds
Cable: Widely available, slower than fiber, leverages copper coaxial cables.
DSL (Digital subscriber line): Older technology, being phased out, leveraged copper phone lines.
Satellite: High availability even in rural areas. Signal reliant on a clear connection made to an orbiting satellite. Currently significantly slower speeds.
internet
Fixed wireless / 5G: Uses towers or on top of buildings that are between the Distribution Point and the customer. High cost to maintain.
The Internet
Let's look at an example activity's journey through the internet to help us understand the components of the internet
Accessing the Internet Using Cable
Data Center
Fiber (Fast)
Cable (slower)
Cable (slower)
Wifi (slower) or ethernet (more reliable)
Slows down every step
The farther fiber optic cables go, the faster the internet
Xfinity or Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
RCN or Residential Communications Network
Technologies Used in Everett, Chelsea, Revere
Verizon
DSL (Digital subscriber line)
Starry
netBlazr
Hughes Network Systems & ViaSat, Inc. & VSAT Systems
as reported to the FCC Federal Communications Commission. Form 477 Dec 2021
Providers like Comcast and RCN uses a mix of fiber and cable referred to as hybrid fiber-coaxial.
Fixed wireless technology does provide an alternative option across these communities that does not exist in other areas of the state. With the availability of tall building with clear line of sight and high density (MDUs) buildings, providers including Netblazr and Starry have begun to leverage fixed wireless technology to provide high levels of speed to pockets cross these communities as seen in the map below.
Cable
While advances continue in leveraging the available infrastructure that is cable copper wiring. Even in lab settings, 10 Gbps is the max
Universities and research labs continue to push the limits of fiber. In 2021 the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology NICT in Japan more than doubled the prior fiber speed record.
They achieved the world's first transmission exceeding 1 petabit per second (125,000 Gbps) in a single-core multi-mode optical fiber.
Fiber
Copper wire slows the connection
image source: cityfibre.com/your-street
This physical technology we use to connect has evolved over time.
As investments have been made
Phone Dial Up and DSL
Coaxial Cable
Fiberoptics
As the uses for infrastructure evolve...
Phone Dial Up and DSL
Coaxial Cable
Fiberoptics
So has the underlaying infrastucure tech.
As investment in infrastructure are made.
https://calcable.org/learn/history-of-cable/
As the physical infrastructure grew, so did we see the uses grow over time. As exemplified by Cable:
https://calcable.org/learn/history-of-cable/
As the uses for the physical cable infrastructure eveolved.
We can see this change over time with cable.
Legacy of Cable
Image Source: https://calcable.org/learn/history-of-cable/
today there is more cable than fiber in our communites
Because of decades of investment
Because of decades of investment
Because of decades of investment
Because of decades of investment
The farther fiber optic cables go, the faster and more reliable the internet.
But...
The Internet
Let's look at an example activity's journey through the internet to help us understand the components of the internet
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Comcast, RCN, Starry, netBlazr etc.
It's important to remember that the internet is comprised of physical, real-world components.
Let's represent all of the tubes, fiber, cables, and components
The Internet
Let's look at an example activity's journey through the internet to help us understand the components of the internet
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Comcast, RCN, Starry, netBlazr etc.
Fiber is the next technology jump
There is a recognized need to upgrade from the current coaxial to the home situation, but it is EXPENSIVE!
ISP have made the switch to fiber bases on business decisions and return on investment, not strickly on need.
ISP including those that were cable companies have upgraded their own lines to fiber while drops” to a home.
As unprecedented private and federal funding is available to make investments.
It's important to understand what technology will provide us with the most impactful and sustainable investment.
While technologies like satellite and 5G will play a role in reaching residents
5G/Satelite relies on fiber, fiber does not rely on 5G.
it's important to consider that...
5G like fixed wireless, plays important role in reaching residents.
but, important to remeber
5G needs fiber, fiber does not need 5G.
"Broadband" standard set by Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Originally established in 1999 the standard has been adjusted in 2010 and 2015.
In 2015 it set the standard as
25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 (Mbps) upload
What is "Broadband"?
Here are a few video examples to help understand how the internet works.
Interested in learning more?
Thanks
More MAPC work here
Internet Slides
By MAPC
