28/02/2013

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Broadband Definition
Broadband Access: broadband over the access
network:
Last (or first) mile or so connecting end-user to their
communication service provider.
Also known as the local loop
Broadband: Deliver >1Mb/s to end user
Usually asymmetric
Higher bandwidth from network to end-user
Different technologies:
ADSL -over existing telephone infrastructure
Cable (Hybrid-Fibre-Coax)
Satellite
FTTC/FTTH
Wireless
ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
Technology to work over existing copper cables (the
subscriber line)
New equipment in exchange and home (compared to
telephone)
Exchange separates data from telephone network
(PSTN)
Uses filter (same in home)
Transmit data on top of voice
-clever modulation technology adaptive to cable attenuation
etc.
ADSL Broadband
Internet
Mode
m
Router
LAN
Wirel
ess
Splitter
DSLAM
PSTN
switch
PSTN
Access
Router
Local exchange
Switch
Micro-
Filter
Street cabinet.
In FFTC NGN
DSLAM goes in
here
ADSL Frequencies
(
a
n
a
l
o
g
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e
)

V
o
i
c
e
U
p
s
t
r
e
a
m
D
o
w
n
s
t
r
e
a
m
Frequency
(kHz)
Magnitude
3.4 26
138
1104
Each sub-channel
4kHz. Can carry up
to 60kb/s
Extend to 2.2MHz for ADSL2+
Boundary can move
to allow increased
upstream bandwidth
Extend to 30MHz for VDSL
Notch: to avoid
radiation on
amateur radio
bands
DSLAM
DSLAM: Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
Equipment that sits in local exchange and
communicates over telephone local loop with
subscriber equipment (i.e. a modem; usually integrated
in home router)
Contains modem for each subscriber loop
Multiplexes data traffic from all subscribers
In legacy networks would facilitate ATM access for end
user to the (ATM) Access Server.
Set up VC and multiplex cells from different users.
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ADSL and ATM
Telecom operators have/had core network using ATM
layer 2 technology (not Ethernet).
Even though Ethernet may be used in both subscriber
network and operators core network the ADSL link in-
between typically uses ATM.
Since unbundling Ethernet is becoming more
common as uplink technology.
Local loop typically remains ATM though Ethernet
based technologies are becoming available.
Unbundling
Legacy system: incumbant telco operator (e.g.
BT) owned all exchanges and local loops.
Unbundling allows other operators access to
the the network resources of the local loop.
Including putting equipment (e.g. DSLAMs etc.)
in the exchange building.
Alternatively operator may opt for wholesale
supply of resources from BT Openreach (in UK)
Independent operators may also take
responsibility for the local loop itself (i.e. line
rental)
ADSL Access Technology: ATM
Access typically based on ATM (Asynchronous
Transfer Mode layer 2 technology).
ATM uses fixed length cells to carry data; each cell
contains 53 bytes with a 48 byte payload (note:
multiple cells are needed for a typical IP packet).
The big thing with ATM is that is designed with QoS in
mind...
this means that if an operator needs a guaranteed bandwidth
for a particular subscriber it can be provisioned.
It is also a sort of hybrid between circuit-switched
telephony and packet switching -it uses virtual
circuits negotiated before data is transferred (it is
connection oriented) but allows other data (=cells
from other virtual circuits) to use the same connection
bandwidth (statistical multiplexing).
ATM Concept
ATM is a cell switched layer 2 technology
Cells have random arrival times and are statistically
multiplexed.
It is connection oriented (unlike Ethernet) and QoS is
negotiated at connection set-up.
The connection is a virtual one based on virtual connection
(VC) (more commonly called virtual circuit).
Switching of cells (to get a path through the network) is
done by identifying which VC the cell belongs to.
There are two levels of connection identifiers Virtual Path
(VPI) and Virtual Circuit (VCI). The VPI can be used to
more efficiently switch a group of VCs.
Quality
of
Service
ATM Cell
8 Bits
5

O
c
t
e
t
s
4
8

O
c
t
e
t
s
Cell 'tax' = 5/48 x100 % = 10.4%
ATM VCs
ATM
Switch
ATM
Switch
ATM
Switch
ATM
device
ATM
device
97
42
VPI/VCI
3
2
port
out
14 1
65 1
VPI/VCI
port
in
Cells multiplexed as
different VCs sharing
same physical link.
QoS maintained by
choosing path choice
and prioritizing cells
1
2
3 4
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ATM Service Classes
Service classes are negotiated with the network
when the virtual circuit is set up.
Constant bit rate (CBR) e.g. uncompressed speech
Variable bit rate/ real time: real-time compressed
audio/video
Variable bit-rate non-real time: e.g. progressive
download video
Available bit-rate: bursty traffic with known minimum,
mean and maximum rates.
Unspecified bit-rate: no guarantees of bit-rate (like
Ethernet or IP)
Carrying data over the local-loop
Physical layer modem at each end of loop (using ADSL).
ATM to multiplex cells from different users and provision QoS.
In legacy networks these cells go off to Broadband Access
Router (the entire connection (subscriber to access router) is
based on ATM).
Remember that broadband has origins in dial-up so the same
technology for access can be used.
Use Point-to-point protocol (PPP) to a PPP server.
This is what it says... a point-to-point link between the users
device and the access server all data is carried over this link in
PPP frames (see RFC 1661 http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1661)
Traditionally used to carry data over a dial-up modem connection
End up with IP =>PPP =>ATM =>ADSL PHY to carry IP
packets.
PPPoA
IP DSLAMS
Its becoming more common for communication providers not to
use ATM networks but instead use IP on an Ethernet based
network (as part of so called NGN; Next Generation Network).
Some DSLAMs take this into account by converting PPP over
ATM (most DSL routers are still designed for the ATM bit) to
PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE).
To get access this way the client still uses PPP (over ATM) and
communicates with a PPP (over Ethernet) server the WAN side
of the DSLAM.
The other method is for the DSLAM to use some layer three (IP)
knowledge to get packets to the right place (no PPP protocol) IP
packet gets delivered to an IP gateway.
Routed Mode
Uplink (from end user)
Here IP packets are carried over ATM to the DSLAM and then Ethernet to the
Gateway for access to an IP network. The DSLAM aggregates cells from different
access lines, provides one end of the ATM connection and generates Ethernet
frames (carrying IP packets from the end users router).
Downlink (to end user)
Ethernet frames from Gateway carry IP packets these then need to be mapped
(using the IP address of the client router) to the appropriate ATM virtual circuit for
the client. These are carried over ATM to the client router.
Notice that with traditional PPPoA there are two layers of protocol between IP
and PHY layer. IP>PPP>ATM This eats up available bandwidth.
An ATM cell adds 100x5/48 =10.5% overhead (significantly more than typical
Ethernet frames).
The upside is that it does have in-built mechanisms to provision QoS. The
service provider can give users and/or traffic classes priority over other
users/classes e.g. VoIP traffic to minimise delays.
There are standards to completely remove the ATM layer and replace it with
Ethernet frames (Ethernet in the First mile;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_in_the_First_Mile) however the bulk of
existing equipment (client routers) are ATM based.
IP DSLAM
DSLAM
Ethernet
ATM (virtual circuit)
IP
IP
All IP packets from ATM VCs
encapsulated in Ethernet frame
destined for gateway
All IP packets from gateway
passed to ATM VCs connected
to subscriber
Subscriber
Next Generation Networks
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) defines an
NGN as a packet based (= IP) network able to provide
services including telecommunication services that are
independent of the underlying transport technology.
The transport will be made up of a number of broadband
technologies that are able to provide Quality of Service
capabilities.
It will provide unrestricted access to multiple service
providers.
Voice and data aggregated at local exchange
An example is BT's 21CN
This sees ATM as just one of several possible transport technologies and the
demise of a separate PSTN with everything carried over IP.
Voice and data is aggregated (as IP) at the local exchange or carried as VOIP
over the local loop.
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MPLS
Although ATM is seeing a diminished importance the label
switching idea has reared its head under another guise:
Multi-Protocol Label switching (MPLS).
In MPLS a new protocol header is inserted between IP
header and layer 2 protocol header. This is to add QoS,
label and TTL.
On entry to the network: QoS is assigned giving priority to
certain frames and a label added. The label is used to route
the frame with MPLS aware switches (the label is switched
in the same way as the ATM VPI/VCI). Any ordinary IP
routers can ignore the MPLS and route using IP.
A tutorial can be found here:
http://www.iptut.com/mpls-knowledge/basic-mpls-tutorial Standard defining
cable modem
operation
HFC cable network
Cable networks derive name from the coaxial cable that is
used in the last mile to the customers premises.
Hybrid of optical fibre (analogue) and coaxial cable in a
branched tree configuration
Originally used for analogue TV
Later for digital TV and Internet access
Telephone typically uses separate parallel twisted pair
copper network (like BTs) but now there is provision to carry
VOIP over cable modems (with QoS built in to speed voice
packets on their way).
Downstream Data rates up to 50Mb/s per (8MHz in Europe)
channel. Upstream up to 27Mb/s (note: these are shared
between multiple users)
Docsis 3.0 increases these figures by allowing multiple
channels to be combined.
HFC Access Network
Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_fi
bre-coaxial
Upstream not shown: but amplifiers are the other way round. Upstream and downstream
share same cable but signals are separated by frequency
HFC frequency plan
5 65
1000
85
Downstream
Frequency (MHz)
Each Channel 8MHz (EU). Can carry
up to 50Mb/s
User decodes one channel (or more
with Docsis 3.0 equipment) but this is
shared with other users
Can carry data or broadcast video
Multiple channels
shared by multiple
users (TDMA)
Magnitude
Uplink
Downlink
Frequency (MHz)
5 850
HFC Multiple access
The HFC upstream channel is shared between multiple users.
One technique used is TDMA where uses can transmit on the
channel during allocated timeslots.
Allocation of timeslots can be done using different techniques..
Reservation
Polling and response
Random access
Combining these techniques enables QoS to be established over
the access network. Important when considering applications such
as VOIP.
Satellite: One-way broadband
Satellite Access
Gateway
Satellite
Internet
ISP
PSTN/ ISDN dial-up network
connection
Satellite transmission as broadcast TV carrying IP
data
Data Flow
Earth Station
Modem
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Satellite Access
Gateway
Satellite
Earth Station
Modem
Internet
Satellite transmission as broadcast TV carrying IP
data
Data Flow
Transmits and
Receives
Uplink using
MF-TDMA
Two-way satellite data e.g. VSAT
Wireless Broadband
Wireless broadband is a term marketed by
some service providers but really is just a ADSL
modem, router and WIFI access point in one.
Not really broadband wireless access!
Local loop limitations FTTC/FTTH
Increase bandwidth by extending optical fibre
deeper into the network:
to cabinet then use higher bandwidth DSL (as
shorter distance to subscriber) = FTTC.
To home =FTTH.
This can be costly especially the last mile
Is bandwidth needed?
Basis of BTs NGN
VDSL2
Very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line.
Used in FTTC (e.g. BT Infinity).
Extends (analogue) bandwidth up to 30MHz
100Mb/s up to 0.5 km
50Mb/s up to 1 km
Actual bandwidth is shown here:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/guide/fibre-broadband.html
FTTH
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
//
1550 nm broadcast
(if used)
1490* nm data
1310 nm data
ONU Optical Network Unit
OLT
Optical line
termination
There are various types of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology.
In Passive Optical Networks optical splitters branch the network to the end user.
Downstream data on one wavelength is Time Division Multiplexed and reaches
all nodes (broadcast downstream).
Upstream transmissions use Time Division Multiple Access controlled centrally
Upstream transmissions cannot be seen by other ONUs
Can also use single duplex fibre or fibre pair to each user
GEPON offers symmetrical 1Gb/s using this technology
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Real: Wireless Broadband Access
Broadband wireless Access uses wireless technology for the
last mile instead of DSL, cable or fibre.
Mobile technologies can provide this at modest data rates.
Fixed wireless access provides potentially higher bit-rates.
Original Wimax specification was for Fixed Wireless Access =>
has become more of a metropolitan area network competitor to
HSPDA (mobile)? FWA in developing countries
Considered mm-wave radio (>10GHz carrier frequency)
10GHz already used in Ireland to carry cable signals over air.
High bandwidths available* (C=Blog2(1+S/N) => high capacity)
but little equipment.
Research at NTU on low cost ~Gb/s radio system at mm-wave
frequencies.
*http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/spectrumawards/completedawards/1040award/notices/result
s.pdf
Summary
Reviewed Broadband Access technologies (and
some legacy technologies that go with it)
ADSL and Cable most common
Satellite has good coverage
Wireless gives mobile access or fixed access
where legacy infrastructure doesnt support
broadband.