Alcatel-Lucent ADS fka ALU

[mpeppy]

Canceling Crosstalk

The speed of data through copper is limited by electromagnetic interference among wires bundled in subterranean tubes. Alcatel-Lucent has developed a chip that measures that noise and generates countersignals to offset it, letting operators double transmission speed. Though rivals are working on similar equipment, Alcatel’s offering is the most advanced, according to JPMorgan.

“You’re basically looking at tens or hundreds of thousands of what we call disturbers -- lines that generate crosstalk and interfere with your line,” said Stefaan Vanhastel, director of fixed-access marketing at Alcatel, based in Paris. “Measuring and canceling that in real time has been the challenge.”

The vectoring technology can double a line’s maximum download speed to about 100 megabits per second -- fast enough to transfer a high-resolution movie in a minute. That would match top speeds advertised by European cable providers.