Report: AT&T TDM-to-IP Transition Trial Results are Disappointing

Only a small fraction of AT&T customers in areas where the company is conducting time-division multiplexing (TDM) to Internet Protocol (IP) transition trials are voluntarily switching off of traditional voice service, according to data published on the New Networks site provided by AT&T. The trials involve an urban area in Florida referred to as Kings Point (FL) or Delray Beach (FL), and a rural community -- Carbon Hill (AL). AT&T initially proposed the trials several years ago and according to New Networks Executive Director Bruce Kushnick, the trials kicked off over a year ago.

In the trials, AT&T offered to replace traditional phone service with an IP-based alternative -- either an LTE-based fixed wireless service or, where available, a service based on the company’s U-verse fiber-to-the-node infrastructure. Kushnick said AT&T didn’t specify the number of customers choosing either of those options in data released publicly, instead providing a numberless graphic representation. But by laying a grid on the graphic, Kushnick estimated that in Kings Point, AT&T has not met its target take rates for the wireless alternative, known as Wireless Home Phone or VoiceLink, or for U-verse. Kushnick argues that some people in the AT&T trials may be reluctant to switch because they have alarm systems, medical alert systems, fax machines or other equipment designed to operate over traditional TDM lines.