SBC makes noise with ambitious DSL plans

摘要

SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com), the regional Bell that in recent years has sopped up sister RBOCs Pacific Bell and Ameritech, made a lot of noise in mid-October by unveiling plans that, it claims, will turn it into the nation's "largest single broadband provider." SBC is backing up its claim with $6 billion in development monies that the carrier plans to spend to make always-on Internet access available to "nearly all" of its customers. The initiative, called "Project Pronto," calls for SBC to: Provide an estimated 77 million subscribers (80% of the Ameritech, Nevada Bell, Pacific Bell, SNET and Southwestern Bell customer base) with voice, data and video services via digital subscriber line (DSL) by the end of 2002.