Citation
(2000), "Off the mark", Work Study, Vol. 49 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2000.07949gab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Off the mark
Off the mark
FirstMark Communications Europe, the broadband Internet company, has initiated the first phase of its Wireless Local Loop (WLL) deployment in Germany. FirstMark is the first communications company to offer WLL in Germany to small and medium-sized businesses. The company currently has trial customers in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin using WLL for first- and last-mile connectivity for high-speed, always-on Internet access and plans a broader commercial roll-out of its services in August. Because it is cost efficient, easier to install and very reliable, WLL is an innovative alternative to fibre for first- and last-mile connectivity for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). WLL can support large quantities of data transfers at high speeds, and data connections are based on Internet protocol (IP), providing transmission speeds of at least two Mbits/s – 32 times faster than an ISDN connection. FirstMark has obtained 148 licences for WLL throughout Germany, including cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich Frankfurt, Bremen and Stuttgart. In addition to WLL, FirstMark recently announced plans to deploy DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology throughout Germany as another access method for SMEs to receive high-speed Internet connections. Further information is available from http://www.firstmark.net