Page 37 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

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AT&T Makes Case Against Keeping Copper

AT&T network chief Chris Sambar outlined regime that was founded back when the of energy as a server. AT&T could replace
the operator’s case for retiring copper lines government was subsidizing and helping the switches with two servers in a central
in some US states and replacing them with us build these networks,” he explained. “But office, which would cut down on the energy
fiber during a forum the company hosted in those old regulatory rules aren’t serving the cost, but the servers will need software,
Washington DC. Sambar, head of network public good anymore”. Sambar noted some installation and rewriting all the systems
for AT&T, stated the regulatory framework of the copper lines are 100 years old. Each that were written in the 1960s or 1970s. All
for retiring copper lines varies across copper line sheathed in paper is susceptible of which will cost more than keeping the
the US. The operator applied for a waiver to moisture issues. Whereas it takes AT&T switches. “The payback period is 15, 16,
in February that would allow it to stop six to eight hours to fix a fibre-related issue, 18 years long so it’s not economical to do
servicing copper-based POTS in California, it can take several weeks to dry out the it,” Sambar said. The executive explained
resulting in opposition from residents. AT&T copper lines. In addition to paper, some of AT&T has tried to incentivize POTS users by
is a carrier of last resort (COLR) in states the copper lines are encased in lead. He offering them free iPhones and a free year
such as California, which means it must stated it can cost just below $10 billion a of service, but to no avail. “It’s amazing that
get permission to retire its copper-based year to maintain the copper lines. While people want to hold on to the old stuff,” he
landline service. On 10 May, the California copper lines account for just 5 per cent of stated. He noted Apple wasn’t required to
Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued networks in the US, Sambar noted a single keep building the first computer it launched
a proposal rejecting AT&T’s request to copper line must be maintained all the way in 1984 and Amazon was allowed to
withdraw as the COLR. That proposal will out to a customer’s location. There could shutter its brick-and-mortar stores in favor
be voted on by the commission at its 20 be thousands of copper lines sheathed at a of putting books online. “We spend billions
June meeting. AT&T, Verizon and additional central office, which need to be maintained of dollars on an old copper network. We
operators have retired copper lines across to serve the customer who is miles away would love to take that billions of dollars
several states, but Sambar noted there with the single line. The copper lines also and allocate it over to fiber to build even
is a web of regulatory challenges that require massive switches in central offices more fiber than we’re building,” he stated.
providers are dealing with. “In the telecom to provide voice services, which Sambar
space, you’ve got a really old regulatory explained use eight to ten times the amount

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37 MAY-JUNE 2024