Switched Multimegabit Data Services

Overview

SMDS is a datagram service designed to provide LAN interconnectivity in a metropolitan area. Weissberger writes "SMDS is a service designed to transport connectionless data packets throughout a metropolitan area (about a 50-mile radius), using exitsting digital transmission facilities (DS1 and DS3), and later, SONET" (1991, 58). Data rates that Pacific Bell supports are 1.544Mbps, 4Mbps, 10Mbps, 16Mbps, 25Mbps, and 34Mbps (Pacific Bell, tariff information).

SMDS provides transparent LAN interconnection. One means used to achieve this end is remote bridging (Clapp, 1991, page 28).

Services

Presently ,supports access at DS1 and DS3 and may support higher bit rate in the near future.
It is technology-independent service, positioned for LAN interconnection.
On 45 Mbps interface, user can elect a 4, 10,16, 25, and 34 -Mbps throughput access class.
Major Service Providers: Bell Atlantic, PacBell, US WEST, Ameritech.

Cost

The following section details the tariff information that Pacific Bell has published and made available on the world wide web. The site provides tariff information for their SMDS services.

Required components:

SMDS Network Service
Access facility to the SMDS Network

Service Area Tariff Prices:

SMDS Network Service

1.17 Mb/s =$375 one-time installation plus $600 per month
4 Mb/s =$4,800 one-time installation plus $3,500 per month
10 Mb/s =$4,800 one-time installation plus $4,500 per month
16 Mb/s =$4,800 one-time installation plus $5,000 per month
25 Mb/s =$4,800 one-time installation plus $5,500 per month
34Mb/s =$4,800 one-time installation plus $6,000 per month

Access Facility

1.17 Mb/s = $634 one time installation plus $175 per month
4, 10, 16, 25, and 34 Mb/s = $2,500 one-time installation plus $2,200 per month

Inter-LATA Access Tariff Prices:

SMDS Network service

1.17 Mb/s =$376 one-time installation plus $600 per month
4 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,100 per month
10 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,300 per month
16 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,500 per month
25 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,700 per month
34Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,800 per month

Access Facility

1.17 Mb/s = $634 one time installation plus $175 per month
4, 10, 16, 25, and 34 Mb/s = $2,500 one-time installation plus $2,200 per month

Inter-State Access Tariff Prices:

SMDS Network service

1.17 Mb/s =$376 one-time installation plus $600 per month
4 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $975 per month
10 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,200 per month
16 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,400 per month
25 Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,600 per month
34Mb/s =$1,500 one-time installation plus $1,700 per month

Access Facility

1.17 Mb/s = $634 one time installation plus $120 per month
4, 10, 16, 25, and 34 Mb/s = $1,500 one-time installation plus $1,800 per month

Sources

Pacific Bell SMDS information
Weissberger, Alan J. "Comparing Alternative Fast Packet Networking Technologies, Part I: SMDS vs. 802.6, Frame Relay, Shared FDDI" Telecommunications, September 1991: 58-65.
Clapp, George H. "LAN Interconnection Across SMDS," IEEE Network Magazine, September 1991: 25-32.