IBM Global Financing, the lending and leasing business segment of IBM
recently announced a financing agreement with DS2 and International
Broadband Electric Communications, Inc (IBEC). DS2 provides important
integrated chip technology to IBEC for the manufacture of Broadband
over Power Line Regenerating Unit (BRU) smart boxes. IBEC´s smart boxes
which are about the size of an ordinary desktop computer tower, are
attached to a common electric utility pole and activate to provide
high-speed Internet signals to households that previously had only
limited or dial-up access to the Internet.
Under the agreement, IBM Global Financing will purchase IBEC invoices from DS2 and provide extended payment terms to IBEC. The agreement helps accelerate customer access to high speed Internet in throughout parts of rural America, predominantly in the South, East and Midwest.
John Callies, general manager of IBM Global Financing, Worldwide said "Spurring investments in communications and information technology infrastructure like Broadband over Power Lines can not only provide a boost to the U.S. economy, but also lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth and significant improvement in Americans' quality of life."
"Broadband over Power Line clearly is one of the technologies that should be included as part of the effort to expand broadband services to un-served and underserved markets in the U.S.," said Vince Vittore, Principal Analyst, Yankee Group. "This jump start in financing by IBM Global Financing is exactly the type of effort that will allow BPL to be an integral part of bringing the benefits of broadband to consumers and businesses that have been left out of the most important communications trend of the last decade."
Today, access to broadband service can make a huge difference in the lives of many. It can help rural communities link to tele-medicine, health, IT, education, and other capabilities that could further boost business and innovation.
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