Rockwell proposes new Internet modem standard

Electronic News, Sept 16, 1996 by Andrew MacLellan

Newport Beach, Calif.--Rockwell Semiconductor Systems has hoisted an Internet modem proposal up the technology flagpole in an effort to drive 56 kilobit-per-second (Kps) connection rate as a new industry standard.

Slated for submission to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards committee, the technology nearly doubles the 28.8 kilobit/sec. rate of the industry's leading modems and is faster than the 33.6Kps devices which are expected to enter the market imminently.

Perhaps most importantly, Rockwell claims its technique transfers data over plain old telephone system (POTS) lines, a potential boon to end-users who do not yet have integrated services digital network (ISDN), high-speed digital subscriber loop (HDSL) or other digital connections.

Both Hayes Microcomputer Products and Boca Research are working with Rockwell and plan to introduce 56Kps modems based on the technology next year.

"This is record-breaking news for our industry," said Tony Zalenski, president/CEO of Boca. "In the world of modems it's like breaking the sound barrier, passing the speed of light or beating the four-minute mile."

The technology's key distinction, Rockwell says, is that it approaches the network as a digital system rather than an analog one, taking advantage of the enhanced bandwidth many companies and information service providers have installed. Similar in basic technology to standard modems, Rockwell expects a modest price premium to accompany the first products.

According to Armando Geday, VP and GM of Rockwell's Multimedia Communications division, much of the information industry already has established digital links to the central switch, leaving only a "last mile" of copper wire connecting the switching office to the end-user.

Rockwell said that it does not believe the new modem technology will supplant the long-anticipated advent of ISDN, rather it will serve as a stop-gap measure taking full advantage of existing infrastructure until digital home-to-central switching office lines are installed.

"It bridges the technology until ISDN is broadly deployed, cheaply available and easy to install," said Mr. Geday.

According to Rockwell, the digital line into the switching station is capable of transferring data at a rate of 64Kps, and that even when the digitized data is encoded and then sent over an analog line, speeds of 56Kps are still possible. u