Developments in optical access networks
BT Technology Journal
Storage area networking – an introduction and future development trends
BT Technology Journal
Global access network evolution
IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (TON)
| Hi-index | 0.00 |
To date the use of optical fibre in the access network has typically only proved cost effective for supplying the high-bandwidthdemands of large corporate companies. For new and established network operators, however, the increasing demand forbandwidth to deliver bearer, interactive and bundled services to business and residential customers is requiring them to seriouslyconsider the high volume roll-out of optical-fibre-based systems. Network operators therefore face some major decisions, notonly in terms of the type of fibre transmission systems to deploy, but also on how to install a cost-effective network of fibrecables, ducting and joints to connect to the customers they wish to serve. Installing fibre in the ground represents a majorcommitment and a long term investment. Network operators can typically expected the fibre infrastructure to equate to at least60% of the cost of the overall access transmission system. Planning and building such networks involves major investment at theoutset, and, in today”s highly competitive markets, operators are faced with the added complications of uncertain take-up ofservices by customers and the likelihood of high customer churn.This paper focuses on “fibre to the home” (FTTH) and the deployment options and challenges for the physical fibre infrastructure.The key difference associated with connecting optical fibre to residential properties instead of business properties is not technicalbut commercial. There is typically a much smaller potential revenue from a residential property than from a business property.This leads to a need for cost optimisation of both the transmission system and the fibre infrastructure. This paper examines thefibre infrastructure issues that need to be considered for an FTTH deployment and describes the fibre access network modellingactivities carried out by BTexact's Broadband Network Engineering unit. The aim of this modelling is both to automate theplanning of, and to optimise the costs of deploying, access networks based on real geographical and demographic data.