A group of 30 European telecoms and communications technology companies will form a committee to study the deployment of standardised Full Service Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Lines, FS-VDSL.

VDSL technology allows for broadband applications such as digital video programming, and high-speed data and voice services over traditional phone lines. The group is aiming for completion of an international standard within six months based on a spectral allocation known as Plan 998.

France Telecom is promoting the initiative, but our own BT is also involved. Other big names from the industry involved in the deal were Deutsche Telekom and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. The equipment makers who have signed up include Alcatel, Cisco and Lucent. Motorola and Nortel are also part of the group. ®

More general info on VDSL, not this project, can be found at the VDSL homepage.