(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 26, 2004 ) CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ - The service paradigm that telcos globally are preparing for is the "triple play" - voice, Internet and video services over a single platform. The success of any telco in the triple play depends very much on the competitive and network environment it finds itself in.

"European networks, with very short loop lengths, are much more easily converted to broadband than U.S. telco networks," said Allan Tumolilllo, COO of Probe Financial Associates. "That, and the fact that the European cable TV industry barely exists in many nations, favors telcos who move agressively in countries like Europe."

"Loop lengths of only 1-2 kilometers favor a widescale deployment of VDSL" said Tumolillo, "and we see Telecom Italia, as an example,.is moving agressively in creating fiber metro networks and VDSL deployments."

The Italian service provider, FastWeb, a subsidiary of e.Biscom and AEM, the power company in Milan, is essentially a "virtual cable provider" offering a wide range of traditional TV programming over any broadband network, as well as a variety of Internet services. FastWeb services over VDSL and/or fiber will be a powerful challenge to the satellite industry in Italy. The U.S. telcos have amuch more difficult problem, exspecially as wireless continues to become more robust.

PFA's new report, "The Triple Play: The Italian Job" assesses the differences between the European "triple play" environment and that faced by the U.S. telcos.
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To obtain more information on Probe Financial Associates and its products, contact Karen Verrinder or visit PFA on the web at www.probefin.com .

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