|
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
A rebuilt New Orleans may emerge with a state-of-the-art communications infrastructure, according to a published report.
USA Today reported that if BellSouth's wiring system in the city was significantly damaged by Hurricane Katrina, it could replace the traditional copper wires with high-speed, high capacity fiber optics. The extent of damage to the wiring is not yet known.
A new system could give the city the best voice, data and video communications infrastructure in the nation, Bill Smith, BellSouth's (Research) chief technology officer, told the paper.
"It's hard under the circumstances to see this disaster in that light," Smith said. "But if you were bound and determined to find a silver lining to this catastrophe, one could say that there is the potential here to rebuild a state-of-the-art network in every respect."
Smith and other communications experts said a rewiring of the city could provide it with vast improvements to health care, education and the local emergency communications network.
Using fiber optics to replace traditional copper wires and conflicting emergency communications networks could be "a golden opportunity for the city," Forrester Research analyst Lisa Pierce told the paper.
If BellSouth's wiring -- which is referred to as the "plant" -- "is in good working condition, we will repair it," Smith told the paper. But he said if repairs are feasible, "We would likely demolish all plant and facilities and rebuild with state-of-the-art equipment."
For a look at the latest estimates of the costs of Hurricane Katrina, click here.
|
