THE ACCELERATION of the development of the next-generation Internet-which experts say would later include pervasive deployment of high-speed broadband such as the Digital Subscriber Line technology (DSL) and cable technology-is a global preoccupation. For emerging countries like the Philippines, anything that comes close to broadband is a welcome thing. Recently, however, the country stood set to get the real thing as major telecommunications carriers started signing supply contracts to roll out broadband Internet services.

Globe Telecom, for instance, has officially expanded its services to include a multimillion-dollar broadband service for businesses and corporate users to high-end individual users. Its venture to broadband-based Internet service would be via xDSL technology.

During the unveiling of its GlobeNet DSL, Globe announced that it would have major features like high-speed Internet access; voice, video and data integration; and secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) for teleworking and Web hosting capabilities. Globe Telecom claims that its GlobeNet DSL will be able to offer real-time interactive multimedia, broadcast-quality video, collaborative computing, videoconferencing, distance learning and video-on-demand.

Globe's broadband technology-touted to end slow dial-ups and connection disruptions-uses existing copper infrastructure for simultaneous use of data, voice and video. Its xDSL connection will deliver high-speed data, voice and integrated services over traditional twisted copper wire that is readily available in business and residential locations. This is a one-to-one dedicated line technology that would take the load off traditional telephone voice channels. According to plans, GlobeNet DSL will be offering up to 1.5 Mbps upstream and 8 Mbps downstream. Globe says this is over 1,000 times faster than ordinary 56K dial-ups.

Asked to comment on criticisms about the "outmoded" copper technology, Globe Telecom's assistant vice president for business communications fixed network group Jesus Romero stressed that DSL technology has proven critics wrong.

"As they say, DSL turns copper into gold. So on our ordinary telephone line you get broadband," he said.

Asked whether Globe foresees any problems with such a marriage of traditional lines and high-tech DSL in the future, Romero stressed that Globe's copper is perfectly designed for DSL. The deployment distance, he claimed, was properly managed. Romero explained that this means Globe is not going to exceed 4 kilometers for each service area where the DSL is being offered. GlobeNet DSL will be offered in all of Globe's service areas.

"In all of these, our design is consistent. We do not exceed 4 km on copper, and DSL works well up to 4 km," he said.

Local businesses, said Globe, will be able to extend on online resources and applications to remote sites for teleworking.

Romero also said that laws of economics dictate Internet demand, which in turn applies for companies, too. Bring down the price, he said, and the demand will increase-just like what happened to mobile phones.

"This also applies to business. A large percentage of businesses are still not connected to the Internet. In fact a lot of customers signing up now-SMEs and even large corporations-are connecting for the first time," he said.

GlobeNet DSL's popularity is expected to pick up in 18 months. Globe said that developed Asian countries are already closely following the explosive demand for dedicated Internet leased lines. Globe is expecting the Philippines to follow suit soon.

Asked about other major trends telecom firms are into right now, Romero observed that almost all of the companies that are not yet in the mobile business want to go in now because consumers will probably opt more for wireless communications. Furthermore, he added, it's a certainty that Internet production and its rate of penetration will continue to grow.

"All we need to address is the availability of terminals to access the Internet such as PCs or mobile phones, the breadth of service by making it available when we need it, and then affordability. There's no reason why we should not expand," he said.

Romero described the Philippine Internet market as "fragmented." He said that a lot of players are selling the same thing to the same customers. He said that this would actually give Globe a very strong competitive advantage for the segment that it is targeting-the business customer.