Professional Documents
Culture Documents
JAN 2013
ISSUE 68
JAN 2013
ISSUE 68
ultra-broadband ubiquity
Sponsor: Huawei COMMUNICATE Editorial Board, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Consultants: Ken Hu, Eric Xu, Ryan Ding Charlie Chen, Bill Zhang, Zha Jun Editor-in-Chief: Sally Gao (sally@huawei.com) Editors: Michael Huang, Pearl Zhu, Jason Patterson Julia Yao, Joyce Fan, Linda Xu, Pan Tao Li Xuefeng, Xue Hua, Xu Ping, Chen Yuhong Cao Zhihui, Zhou Shumin Contributors: Li Chaoyang, Shen Jianrong, Xie Juan Huang Xinqiang, Zhang Ying, Wu Qiong Zhang Yufen, Yu Xiangyang, Xing Jingfan Zheng Yuanyuan, Li Zhi E-mail: HWtech@huawei.com Tel: +86 755 28786665, 28787643 Fax: +86 755 28788811 Address: B1, Huawei Industrial Base, Bantian, Longgang, Shenzhen 518129, China Publication Registration No.: Yue B No.10148
Copyright Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. NO WARRANTY The contents of this document are for information purpose only, and provided as is. Except as required by applicable laws, no warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are made in relation to contents of this document. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no case shall Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages, or lost profits, business, revenue, data, goodwill or anticipated savings arising out of or in connection with any use of this document.
Whats inside:
Cover Story
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Copper Reborn
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Fiber Utilization
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Lets COMMUNICATE beyond technology and share understandings of the latest industry trends, successful operational cases, leading technologies and more. Based on in-depth analysis of the matters that lie close to your heart, we will help you stay on top of the telecom game.
Mobile Ubiquity
Strategic Operations
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Open-access NBN
Open-access national broadband, which represents a departure from the typical practice of a single operator building and operating the NBN to provide direct consumer services, encourages both innovation and market dynamism, making the upfront investments far more palatable in this age of austerity. By Wang Qin & Yi Wengen
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NEWS
Huawei Partners with SELEX Elsag for UAE Railway
Dubai, UAE, December 20, 2012, Huawei has been selected by SELEX Elsag (a U.K. mobile solutions provider) to supply optical and IP equipment for a new GSM-R railway network that will cover the United Arab Emirates, the first section of which will be 1200km long and completed at the end of 2017. Huawei Enterprise's wireless network will guarantee mobile communications along a 266km portion of the railway line, which will connect the entire oil-bearing area of Shah, becoming the primary means of transporting more than seven million tons of granulated sulphur per year from the Habshan area to the port of Ruwais for export. Huawei's GSM-R technology is vital to rail network safety, offering critical communication functions so that train engineers, civil engineers, controllers, and crew members are able to effectively communicate with each other, while providing passengers with an enhanced commuting experience. Huawei GSM-R solutions have already been successfully implemented in China, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Shenzhen, China, December 25, 2012, Huawei announced it has completed deployment of an intelligent optical distribution network (iODN) for Rostelecom in the Perm Krai region of Russia, making it the country's first. Rostelecom is the largest fixed network operator in Russia. To maintain its competitive advantage and enrich service offerings, Rostelecom has planned to roll out high-speed broadband over fiber to the home (FTTH), but with concerns over the deployment efficiency and O&M of the fiber network infrastructure. Huawei's iODN
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 29, 2012, Huawei has been awarded the LTE Innovation of the Year, Core Network Vendor of the Year
a n d W i re l e s s B ro a d b a n d Network Vendor of the Year awards at the 2012 Telecom Asia Readers' Choice Awards. Huawei received the LTE
Cover Story
Huawei Communicate
eople now expect broadband access anywhere, anytime, with services now blurring the scenarios of usage. Covering various media, rollout techniques, and application scenarios, heterogeneous access helps operators flexibly meet different customer demands and market expectations, ensuring both competitive advantage and optimal ROI. Operators such as STC have built their heterogeneous networks, with a fiber foundation, delivering enhanced bandwidth with timely deployment.
By Zou Xudong
Classic access network construction, with its inherent limits in terms of service provisioning, can no longer meet telco customer needs, regardless of market location, competition level or services offered. This is pushing operators into the fiber realm, but a one-size-fits-all plan simply will not work, at least not profitably, forcing operators to turn to heterogeneous access (with various media, rollout techniques, and application scenarios) for broadband service delivery.
of fiber deployment costs; Google launched a trenching race to encourage innovation, while also researching new fiber deployment techniques on their own to reduce costs. The kicker is that Google Fiber installation requires online pre-registration; in other words, Google Fiber will only provide services to an area when it shows sufficient interest. During deployment, the Google Fiber team will lay the connection to the registrants home and install user equipment, with the latter handling the actual indoor connection. Carriers would be hard pressed to duplicate these practices, as an interloper like Google, with its tremendous resources and lack of legacy baggage, can survive a write-off if this effort never turns a profit, but telcos dont have that luxury, as they typically have the regulatory burdens of utilities, without the guaranteed revenue stream. Operators need a network deployment technique that can match their current capabilities with an enhanced return on investment (ROI).
Cover Story
Heterogeneous access for ubiquitous ultra-broadband networks the optical distribution network (ODN) are no picnic either, as a result of the complicated and fault-prone nature of ODN cabling routes. Whats worse, FTTH involves indoor cable routing (requiring cooperation from the end user), prolonging and complicating the process further. In certain countries, indoor cabling can account for more than 45% of the overall FTTH rollout costs. Resistance from end users has forced China Unicom to adjust its 2012 FTTH plan from five million homes covered in Beijing to only one million, over a time now prolonged by at least three months. answer has helped bring about other application scenarios such as fiber to the distribution point (FTTDp) and fiber to the street (FTTS), in use by BT and Swisscom, respectively, that enable diverse bandwidth and ROI flexibility. Operator X, a tier-one fixed operator in Europe, had watched its market share shrink owing to strict local loop unbundling (LLU) supervision and fierce competition in recent years. The largest cable provider had eroded Operator Xs customer base through bundled services and high-bandwidth access (the highest at the time), while a nationwide broadcaster released a software application for Internet television and radio service that received 180 million requests within one year (with this number increasing to 123 million per month by May 2010). This application generated about 10% of network traffic nationwide, and brought even greater upgrade pressure to bear. The government planned to levy broadband taxes to sponsor the modernization of its digital infrastructure. Gaining government support and considering service demands and competition, the operator started to evolve its network to ultrabroadband. Operator X started a fiber to the premises (FTTP) trial in 2007, and then moved to FTTC two years later. Results showed that FTTP rollout
Huawei Communicate
cost per household to be about USD2400, five times that for FTTC. This motivated the operator to deploy the latter nationwide, with the former reserved for high-demand and/or fiercely competitive areas. With FTTC offering 40-80Mbps, and FTTP delivering 100-300Mbps, Operator X now has a superior offering to any of its competitors. Its broadband market share hit 31% in 2012, up 4% from the previous year. The estimated ROI for its FTTx network has also been reduced from the ten years that FTTP would have delivered to five. Supplementing this with VDSL2 and Vectoring technologies for its legacy copper, Operator X has seen its last-mile bit rates exceed 80Mbps, while extending the product lifecycle to boot. Investors have also greatly appreciated the operators strategy, as seen in its nearly 50% rise in stock price from 2009 to 2011.
Cross-arena competition
Fixed operators are facing competition on two fronts. One is against the mobile operators such as China Mobile, Vodafone, America Movil, and T-Mobile, who are now in the midst of FTTx rollout so that they can offer bundles that include
fixed voice, broadband, TV, and mobile services, at a lower price. Their other competitors are their longtime nemeses, the MSOs. Cable operators have long been dependent on DOCSIS 1.0/2.0 technologies, which provide up to 50Mbps of downstream speed, but DOCSIS 3.0 is revolutionizing the business, thanks to its theoretical 5Gpbs downstream speed, enabling 100Mbps+ broadband access for each and every user. An increasing number of cable operators have tested high-speed DOCSIS 3.0. KDG (Germany) started its 1Gbps trial in 2010, while UPC (the Netherlands) and Virgin Media (U.K.) piloted 1.3Gbps and 1.5Gbps solutions, respectively, in 2011. ARRIS (U.S.) demonstrated a 4.5Gbps cable solution in the same year; while CableLabs (an R&D consortium for cable TV) has already proposed the DOCSIS 3.1 standard, with the goal of supporting up to 1Gbps access for individual users. Fierce competition has forced operators worldwide to use every means possible to provide broadband services. AT&T uses coax for home networking, while Orange uses VDSL2 over coax in certain areas instead of more heavily regulated twisted pairs, and KDG adopts VDSL2 (for access) plus DOCSIS (for backhaul) to provide broadband
As opposed to Internet service providers (ISPs), operators own their copper and fiber resources, but their market leadership can be strengthened by integrating other access media, such as Ethernet, coax, power lines, and even idle Wi-Fi channels.
Cover Story
Heterogeneous access for ubiquitous ultra-broadband networks access to certain users. As opposed to Internet service providers (ISPs), operators own their copper and fiber resources, but their market leadership can be strengthened by integrating other access media, such as Ethernet, coax, power lines, and even idle Wi-Fi channels. In the ADSL era, when incumbents were required to share their last-mile copper access, competitors could rent the formers equipment rooms and wiring to provide services to end users. However, FTTx sites are closer to end users, making them more dispersed (trickier to share). The EU, after years of debate, has yet to resolve this issue, and this has made a lot of operators riskaverse and thus reluctant to invest in FTTx, with ground being lost to the MSOs as a result. To resolve this dilemma, operators are resorting to less-regulated access media, such as coax and power lines. In Germany, most in-building twisted pair cables and TV coaxial cables belong to proprietors and are managed by residential leasing companies. The right to use them is open to any company or individual. Twisted pairs have peerto-peer (P2P) connections, so the right to use them requires house-to-house negotiation, whereas coaxial cables have point-to-multipoint (P2MP) connection and require only building-to-building negotiation. In 2011, Deutsche Telekom began to realize that TV coaxial cables were of strategic importance to its overall broadband development; a continuous focus on the acquisition of these cables for its broadband service provisioning efforts has been in place since that time.
Huawei Communicate
timely deployment. STC, Saudi Arabias leading fixed and mobile operator, commenced FTTx construction in 2008. In June 2011, the operator commenced the bidding for its LTE and mobile backhaul networks, with rigid requirements in place for network protection, synchronization, quality of service (QoS), packet delay, and jitter. STC eventually chose FTTx GPON for its LTE backhaul and SME broadband services, and this decision seems savvy in three respects. First, its FTTx network coverage is already broad, and its FTTx sites are close to its LTE s i t e s , s o t h e o p e r a t o r c a n b u i l d a re l i a b l e backhaul network through remote device (MxU) interoperations. Second, the operator can use FTTx for LTE sites and SMEs, eliminating the need to build an independent network for each, while enhancing the profit margin for the original networks. And finally, its FTTx provides unified network access and management for all scenarios, reducing OPEX and O&M complexity considerably.
A fixed access solution should be technically & economically optimal, and meet a variety of broadband access demands. In densely populated, fiercely competitive, or post-greenfield areas, o p e r a t o r s c a n p r i o r i t i ze F T T H a n d o t h e r supplementar y means to ensure sufficient bandwidth. In less competitive/crowded areas, operators can adopt FTTC or FTTB to ensure cost-effective bandwidth, while DSL or FTTC can work in the rural areas. Mixed network construction can help operators maximize resource usage and retain high-value customers, making for a virtuous cycle of network, user, and profit growth. Covering various media, rollout techniques, and application scenarios, heterogeneous access helps operators flexibly meet different customer demands and market competitions, ensuring optimal ROI and secured competitive edge. Designed for future-oriented heterogeneous access, the Huawei SingleFAN 2.0 solution delivers unified management for the entire access network. Thanks to its unified access and innovative network management, SingleFAN 2.0 can help operators build a ubiquitous ultra-broadband heterogeneous network for home, mobile and SME customers. Editor: Michael huangzhuojian@huawei.com
Mixed network construction improves resource usage and VIP customer retention. Covering various rollout techniques and application scenarios, heterogeneous access helps operators meet different customer demands, ensuring optimal ROI and competitiveness.
Fiber Utilization
FIBER UTILIZATION
but new management and sharing techniques are needed for it to truly realize its potential.
Huawei Communicate
China Mobile Shanxi smartens up fiber management 16 Network sharing with FTTH/ PON architectures 19 FTTW drives WLAN construction
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TWDM-PON
t the April 2012 meeting of the Full Ser vice Access Network (FSAN) group, time and wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (TWDM-PON) technology was chosen as the primary solution for next-generation passive optical network stage-2 (NG-PON2) architecture, thanks to its evolving specifications, wavelength plans, loss budgets, and key technologies that enable tunable ONUs. Huawei has developed the worlds first full system 40Gbps TWDM-PON prototype, and test efforts verify that TWDM-PON is achievable through the reuse and integration of commercial devices and components.
TWDM-PON selection
Immediately after the 10Gbps passive optical network (XG-PON1) project was spun out to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), FSAN began to work on NG-PON2, with the relevant requirements study initiated in late 2010 among the FSAN operators, while the NG-PON2 system proposal investigation commenced in 2011,
with the active involvement of FSAN vendors. At the beginning of this project, the basic requirements were for a system with at least 40Gbps of capacity and 40km of reach at a 64-way split, but not necessarily backwards compatibility with existing optical distribution network (ODN) technology or even previous PON systems, such as those for video overlay. Based on this very loose scope of requirements, many different systems were proposed, and they are reviewed here. The first proposal was based on time division multiplexed PON (TDM-PON), namely 40Gbps time division multiplexed PON (XLGPON), which increases the single carrier serial downstream bit rate for XG-PON1 from 10Gbps to 40Gbps, while the upstream supports a 10Gbps serial time division multiple access (TDMA) bit rate. The second proposal was based on time and wavelength division multiplexed PON (TWDM-PON). It stacks multiple XG-PON1s using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). Four pairs of wavelengths would support aggregated rates of 40Gbps in the downstream and 10Gbps in the upstream.
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Fiber Utilization
TWDM-PON: The solution of choice for NG-PON2 The third direction includes five flavors of wavelength division multiplexed PON (WDMPON). Each provides a dedicated wavelength channel at the rate of 1Gbps to each optical network unit (ONU). The major differences lie in the employed WDM transmitter or receiver technologies. The last direction employs three types of orthogonal frequency division multiplexed PONs (OFDM-PONs) that apply quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm to generate digital OFDM signals. Their differences lie in the specific implementation of OFDM technology. Given the diversity in these options, the FSAN operators reconsidered their true objectives for the NG-PON2 project. The ability to operate on existing fiber ODN was the first firm requirement to crystallize, followed by support of up to eight independent operators, and compatibility with video overlay. Compatibility with XG-PON was also made mandatory, with the timeframe for practical availability set at 2015. The FSAN members analyzed each of these system proposals, comparing functional complexity, achievable loss budget, power consumption, technological challenges, and key component maturity. It turned out that the above requirement updates had a huge impact on the final selection. Some systems were eliminated due to the ODN compatibility requirement, with others eliminated due to the timeframe requirement. In short, all eyes turned to TWDM-PON, which was finally selected in April 2012. There are options that fit the baseline architecture to broader market scenarios. TWDMPON, for example, can support eight pairs of wavelengths. This type of TWDM-PON system is valuable in a market where multiple operators share one physical network infrastructure. Another example would involve provision of Gigabit PON (G-PON) rates for each pair of wavelengths, which would probably also relax the TWDM-PON optics requirements. Coexistence with previous PON generations in the legacy ODN depends on the TWDM-PON wavelength plan, and the first option is to reuse the XG-PON wavelength bands. This implies a finer grid inside of the previously defined bands, as was described in the NG-PON1 study. This wavelength plan leverages the development work that has gone on in XG-PON optics. It is also compatible with G-PON and the 1555nm radio frequency (RF) video overlay channel, while blocking standardized XG-PON. Its loss budget is similar to that for XGPON; a typical loss budget value is about 33dB. The second option is to redefine the C-band enhancement band to contain both the upstream and downstream wavelengths; this features the attractive optical characteristics of Erbium-doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) for signal amplification, with reduced transmission fiber loss to boot. Such a system also has a higher power budget and a longer reach, with the RF video overlay channel blocked. With EDFAs, this wavelength plan could achieve a loss budget of about 38dB. Another option is a mixture of both of these plans. The downstream channels would be designed in the L-plus band, with the upstream channels in the C-minus band. This option maintains the G-PON and RF video channels, while upstream transmission is similar to the wavelength plan for the second option. This wavelength plan is also compatible with G-PON and XG-PON, and will hopefully support coexistence with RF video overlay. Fortunately, C-band components could work with an EDFA preamplifier to provide a higher power budget, though in the downstream, an L-band amplifier is needed to improve the power budget; a loss budget of about 38dB could be achieved here. This area is an active study topic for FSAN and the ITU-T Recommendation series G.989. In September 2012, the ITU-T SG 15 plenary meeting consented the G.989.1 Recommendation. This recommendation specifies system requirements for NG-PON2 as well as the typical
TWDM-PON
In the TWDM-PON architecture, four XGPON1s are stacked using four pairs of wavelengths. For simple network deployment and inventory management purposes, the ONUs use colorless tunable transmitters and receivers. The transmitter is tunable to any of the upstream wavelengths, w h i l e t h e re c e i v e r c a n t u n e t o a n y o f t h e downstream ones. To achieve a power budget higher than that of XG-PON1, optical amplifiers are employed at the OLT side to boost the downstream signals as well as to pre-amplify the upstream signals. ODN remains passive since both the optical amplifier and WDM Mux/DeMux are placed at the OLT side. 11
JAN 2013 . ISSUE 68
Huawei Communicate
system features for TWDM-PON. Beyond the physical layer changes, TWDM-PON is intended to completely reuse but not change all the material developed for XG-PON1; the MAC layer, OMCI, and interoperability documents are all the same. However, there is a need for some small additions to specify the methods to manage and control the multiple wavelengths in the system. These aspects are being developed in an ITU-T Recommendation effort, G.multi. TWDM-PON system standards are expected to be completed by July 2013.
Readiness is expected in 2013. DFB laser with partial TC This concept was introduced at FSAN, and partial temperature control is a simplification of the above. Industrial development is in progress now, and readiness is expected in 2014. Multi-section DFB (electrical control) without cooling Devices for this technology are available now, but costs need to be tamed through reduction or removal of features and packaging. Viable products are expected in 2014. External cavity laser (ECL) with mechanical control without cooling Prototypes for this technology are available, but reliability and stability warrant improvement. 2015 should see the first commercial devices. ECL with thermo/electro/piezo/magneto-optic control without cooling This is a generic placeholder for the entire range of ECL devices, for which nearly all are currently experimental; any could pan out. Commercial devices are expected in 2015 or later.
Tunable receivers
Thermally-tuned Fabry-Perot (FP) filter Commercially available. Angle-tuned FP filter Commercially used in low volumes, but SWAP engineering is needed before mass production, which could take place in 2013.
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Tunable transmitters
Di s t r i b u t e d f e e d b a c k ( D F B ) l a s e r w i t h temperature control (TC) This technology is widely available now, and a radical redesign to reduce costs is being industrially developed.
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Fiber Utilization
TWDM-PON: The solution of choice for NG-PON2 Injection-tuned silicon ring resonator This technology is currently experimental, but it has a strong potential for monolithic detector integration. Devices are expected in 2015. Liquid-crystal tunable filter Also experimental, and more development is needed, but it would consume very little power if viable. Commercial devices are expected in 2014. Thermally-tunable FP detector Experimental now, and more development is needed, but it would prove inherently monolithic if viable. Commercial readiness is expected in 2014. The first fully packaged tunable transceivers are expected to be available in 2013, while modules that could be considered commercially viable are expected in 2014. As to the technology leap and readiness, TWDM-PON is based on the XG-PON system, and leverages all the development that has been in progress since the ITU-T G.987 series recommendations were developed two years ago. A fully functional prototype of the TWDM-PON system was developed by Huawei in September 2011, and has been lab demonstrated in several telco labs. In other words, TWDM-PON is already in the prototype stage, and limited field trials could begin as soon as demand dictates. Given that the standards process began in 2012, with 2013 as a completion target, a finished system should be available in 2014. APD ROSA, while an ONU can tune to any channel upon software command from the PON control logic. The MAC layer functionalities are based on XG-PON1 transmission convergence (TC) layer specifications in ITU-T Recommendation G.987.3, while the TWDM-PON MAC is implemented in a commercial FPGA. Modules such as dynamic bandwidth allocation, forward error correction (FEC), scrambling, and XG-PON1 encapsulation mode (XGEM) are integrated to demonstrate full system operation. In the prototype system, Huawei G-PON and XG-PON OLT cards are placed into the same TWDM-PON OLT card chassis. The ODN contains two stages of splitters. A 1:8 splitter is followed by a 1:64 splitter to provide a total split ratio of 1:512, while the feeder fiber is 20km. Note that, depending on the legacy ODN deployment, the first splitter can be 1:16 or 1:32 and the second can be 1:32 or 1:16. Also note that the split ratio and reach distance can be adjusted to meet the needs of the legacy ODN deployment. For example, 1:512 split with 20km can be safely converted into a 1:128 split with 40km or a 1:64 split with 60km. A type-MA5616 G-PON ONU and a type-MA5612 XG-PON ONU are connected to the first-stage splitter (the 1:8 splitter), and this helps enable performance evaluation of G-PON, XG-PON, and 40G TWDM-PON coexistence. In addition to receiver sensitivity, upstream power budget, and coexistence tests, voice & data services have also been tested in the prototype. There is no interference between services over TWDM-PON and over the other two PONs (G-PON and XG-PON), showing that 40Gbps TWDM-PON can coexist with both G-PON and XG-PON while reusing the same ODN. TWDM-PON has been selected by FSAN as the primary solution for NG-PON2. It provides 40Gbps for downstream and 10Gbps for upstream by stacking four pairs of wavelengths operating at the XG-PON1 rates. A full system 40Gbps TWDM-PON prototype was developed by Huawei in 2011. The salient test results with operators verify that TWDM-PON is achievable through the reuse and integration of commercial devices and components. With the rapid progress in NGPON2 standards, TWDM-PON standards will be completed in 2013, and a finished commercial system should see the light of day in 2014. Editor: Michael huangzhuojian@huawei.com
Huawei Communicate
Thanks to Huaweis iODN intelligent fiber management system, China Mobile Shanxi can now collect network data with a single click, enhancing both service time-to-market (TTM) and the troubleshooting process. It is also expected to reduce its O&M costs, as a result of significant efficiency improvements in both fiber resource utilization & service provisioning, as well as the elimination of fiber deployment rework.
hina Mobile Shanxi (Shanxi Mobile), the Shanxi provincial branch of the worlds largest operator, was among the first of the giants branches to go broadband. Metropolitan fiber infrastructure buildout commenced in 2005, with fiber resources growing abundant since that time. However, the operators legacy optical network was only modestly utilized, as fibers were adopted independently for shared, exclusive, or reserved purposes. Furthermore, some fibers were deteriorating, with attenuation increasing. In recent years, urban development has been in full swing in Shanxi, with fiber optic communications often interrupted as a result, but fault location has been difficult, thanks to a lack of an effective monitoring
system. Although Shanxi Mobiles legacy management system could manage fiber resources to some extent, O&M inefficiencies were creating a dire need for a unified platform. In 2011, Shanxi Mobile introduced the Huawei intelligent optical distribution network (iODN) management system to the metropolitan fiber infrastructure then being laid in the provincial capital of Taiyuan.
at the time. The first phase of its fiber management upgrade covered five core equipment rooms for convergence devices (and their affiliated rooms). By October 2012, this first phase was completed, with certain services at two of the rooms cut over and the system operating stably.
iODN introduction
Sh a n x i Mo b i l e c o n c l u d e d t h a t intelligent fiber infrastructure could accelerate fiber troubleshooting and add flexibility to the fiber route scheduling process, both major areas of concern
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Fiber Utilization
China Mobile Shanxi smartens up fiber management resources, as well as its clear port occupation and ODN topology diagrams, enabling centralized management of fiber resources & equipment. did the number of patch cords, leading to very high costs. Huawei iODN can uniformly manage fiber resources, identifying each fiber cables usage and ensuring 100% accurate resource data. Since its implementation, Shanxi Mobile uses shared fibers exclusively, meaning far fewer patch cords. First, the operator plans, allocates, and pre-connects shared fibers, and then uses iODN to configure them as exclusive to certain sites. When traffic increases, the iODN can flexibly allocate other shared fibers for those sites, maximizing fiber usage. Equipment installation costs are also reduced, as fiber deployment requires only a single site visit, while fibers are configured in batches. electronic work orders to construction parties, who can connect all shared fibers in a single batch. As each fiber port is equipped with a unique eID label, Shanxi Mobile can ensure the correct interconnection of fiber patch cords, enabling flexible fiber resource allocation based on service needs. Application Thanks to iODNs intelligent fiber management, Shanxi Mobile can now choose a viable fiber route for new service application quickly. After choosing the optimal shared fibers, the operator issues a work order to its engineers, who connect fiber cores at the user and central office sides only, shortening service provisioning time significantly. Shanxi Mobile can also identify idle or active fibers, and obtain fiber utilization rates and other statistics through iODN. If the fiber quality deteriorates (optical attenuation increases), its fault diagnostics will issue an immediate warning, upon which iODN allocates a new optical route to the affected service, while locating the precise fault point and issuing troubleshooting instructions to engineers. Optimization Shanxi Mobile can now adjust its fiber network flexibly to bring it in line with service development. The operator will receive an advance warning through iODN if fiber resources will soon be overwhelmed by service growth, and if services remain flat in certain areas despite abundant fiber resources. The operator can optimize the fiber network by changing the relevant ports only, and then allocating idle fiber resources to hotter spots. With Huawei iODN, Shanxi Mobile can now eliminate the manual errors involved in the collection and recording of network data. The system can also enable real-time monitoring and scheduled checks, while displaying network resources data for fibers, equipment, port status, and more. Shanxi Mobile is expected to slash its O&M costs, thanks to enhanced network efficiency, shortened TTM, and reduced rework for service deployment, making for network management that is truly intelligent.
Editor: Michael huangzhuojian@huawei.com
Proactive diagnostics
Shanxi Mobile had a large number of passive nodes in its legacy fiber infrastructure, making troubleshooting a real headache. Fiber maintenance typically happened only after a user complaint, leaving both sides in an unenviable position. Definition of the responsible party for troubleshooting depended primarily on engineer experience, leading to an unacceptable percentage of invalid work orders. Whats worse, fault location depended on optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) readings, leading to a lot of trial and error. Engineers with the skill to avoid these inefficiencies are few in number, pushing maintenance costs to even more frustrating heights. Huawei iODN, combined with the vendors N2510 line diagnosis system, employs dark fiber management to help solve this problem, as three to five cores of 288-core fiber-optic cable are used for network monitoring. By noting attenuation changes in optical signal power for the select cores, warnings arrive earlier for the entire cable. Fiber cable health records can also be made through routine OTDR tests, which would involve twoway monitoring. To reduce the quantity of OTDRs used and the costs involved, a single OTDR monitors the fiber optic ring through optical switch unit (OSU) cascading. After a fault is detected, the OTDR measures the distance to the fault point automatically, enabling accurate display of the location and cause of a fault via GIS.
Huawei Communicate
FTTH/PON architectures
As cash-strapped governments and operators look to FTTH as a means to provide high-speed broadband access, operators have the opportunity to share their networks to help make the upfront costs less daunting. However, a thorough understanding of the technical and financial implications of such an arrangement, both in terms of the architecture and number of operators involved, is needed before any commitments are made.
By Juan Rendon, Principal Consultant, Huawei Carrier Solutions Department
o u n t r i e s a n d re g i o n s t h e world over have national broadband plans either in place or on the way, and fiber to the home (FTTH) is considered future-proof thanks to its transmission capacity. However, even though many operators globally have already gone optical for the access network, passive network infrastructure can be costly, due to difficulties in the field such as digging and trenching, which can account for a minimum of 60 to 70% of the initial investment. This is a tough pill to swallow in the current economic climate. However, operators can reduce the cost of passive infrastructure through access network sharing which, as a consequence, reduces the cost per operator for a home passed. This approach has been used in the wireless arena for 3G and 4G, but less so for fiber-based access. Many operators have plans to deploy FTTH/Passive Optical Networks (PONs) over the next few years. Industry and standardization groups have been working on new revisions for PON
architecture. Two phases for NextGeneration-PON (NG-PON1 & NGPON2) have been defined by the Full Service Access Network (FSAN) group, a pre-standards forum composed of equipment manufacturers, independent test labs, and telco service providers. Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technologies that work on PON architectures and enable multichannel transmission at different optical wavelengths along a single fiber have also been under discussion at the FSAN and at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Certain operators, interested in making strategic decisions regarding possible investment in FTTH/PON, are considering network sharing with other parties to reduce deployment costs. This article explores how this might be done for various architectural scenarios.
PON architectures
This article considers four PONbased architectures that have been studied or are being studied by Study Group 15 (SG15) of the ITU-T, making them deployment candidates for various operators around the globe Gigabit PON (GPON), 10-Gigabit-capable
Juan Rendon works in Huaweis Carrier Solutions Department in Western Europe, and is an expert in the technical, strategic, financial, and regulatory aspects of telecommunications networks. Dr. Rendon has over 12 years of experience in the telecommunications industry working with operators, consulting firms, and manufacturers.
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Fiber Utilization
Network sharing with FTTH/PON architectures PON (XG-PON), Time and Wavelength Division Multiplexing PON (TWDM-PON), and Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG)-based WDM-PON. are its limitations in terms of sharing an individual fiber due to wavelength occupation. However, the good news is that XG-PON is compatible with existing GPON passive access infrastructure elements, such as cables and splitters.
GPON
GPON is already standardized and has been in commercial use for some time. Its downlink and uplink transmission capacities are 2.5Gbps and 1.2Gbps, respectively. Operators tend to use a distance of 20km, though a logical reach of 60km is possible, and even though its splitting factor can reach 128, a value of 64 or lower is typically employed in the field. However, given the fact that all signals work with the same wavelength pairs, it is not possible to share an individual fiber, making multi-fiber deployment a prerequisite for network sharing.
TWDM-PON
Thus far, the primary solution for NG-PON2 standardization has been TWDM-PON, a process that should be finished in 2013 or 2014, with commercial availability possible in 2016 to 2018. TWDM-PON works with TWDM and it is currently possible to stack 4 XG-PON signals on one TWDM-PON line, though stacking of 8 or 16 signals is being explored. A downlink port has a capacity of 40Gbps (4*10Gbps) while the uplink capacity is 10Gbps (4*2.5Gbps). The splitting factor should be at least 128 (512 theoretical max.) while the reach could be 40 to 60km. In comparison with GPON and XG-PON, TWDM-PON enables operators to work with different wavelengths on the same fiber, meaning that individual fibers can be shared. A WDM mux can be used to combine signals from different operators, at a capacity of 4 or 8 XGPON ports, but the kicker is that TWDM-PON architecture can reuse the passive infrastructure
XG-PON
XG-PON was defined as part of the NG-PON1 standardization path, with its features elaborated in the ITU-T G.987 recommendations from 2010 and commercial availability expected in 2012 or 2013. XG-PONs downlink transmission capacity is 10Gbps, while its uplink can reach 2.5Gbps. The splitting factor can be 128 or even more, but its logical reach is the same as that for GPON, as
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AWG-based WDM-PON
The ITU-T has defined Arrayed Waveguide Gr a t i n g - b a s e d W D M - P O N a s a t r a n s p o r t technology, but it is still not clear when products will be available commercially for residential use. The downlink and uplink transmission capacity for this technology is 1.25Gbps per user, and this is exclusively used by a single subscriber, while total transmission capacity per fiber is 40Gbps (32*1.25Gbps). It has not been decided whether there will be 16, 32, or 48 wavelengths per fiber, but the distance in the access segment can reach 40km.
were taken into account (one, two, and three operators using the network). The number of operators that can physically share the network depends on the local needs and on the possibility of obtaining a sufficient market share to enable a reasonable return of investment. Usually, it will be two to four operators sharing a physical network, though theoretically it could be more. For the cost calculation, CAPEX and OPEX values were considered. When comparing the average values for the three scenarios, the costs for XG-PON and TWDM-PON proved 3.5 and 3.9% higher than that for GPON, respectively. Even though the costs of the active network elements for XG-PON (OLT and ONT) are higher than those for GPON, the cost of the passive network infrastructure (in-house cabling, splitters in the street cabinet & basement, and feeder & distribution segments) is the same. The impact of active network element costs for GPON and XG-PON proved relatively low as more than 88% of the overall cost derives from the passive elements. The cost of XG-PON deployment for the three scenarios is 0.3% lower than that for TWDMPON, and even though the active element costs for the latter are higher than those for the former, each fiber in the feeder and distribution segments can be assigned to several operators with XG-PON, leading to reduced passive infrastructure costs. When comparing the scenarios where two or three operators share the network, the cost for TWDMPON is 5.6% lower than that for XG-PON. The mean cost of AWG-based WDM-PON is 18% higher than that for the other technologies. In AWG-based WDM-PON architecture, there are no splitters, and there is a single fiber in the feeder segment; nevertheless, in the distribution segment there is one fiber assigned to every end user. Moreover, the active element costs for AWG-based WDM-PON are higher than those for others. Compared with a lone operator scenario, the total cost reduction is 47% on average when two operators share the network, and 65% when three operators share it. The evolution of PON architectures enables the complete reuse of passive infrastructure, enabling the planning of a safe long-term investment. From a technical and financial standpoint, network sharing of FTTH/PON architectures is a viable solution for any & all operators looking to reduce the risk of investment in fiber-based networks. Editor: Jason jason.patterson@huawei.com
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Fiber Utilization
FTTW drives WLAN construction
n July 24, 2012, Beijing resident John Sun was walking in the citys financial district in the aftermath of the heaviest rainstorm to hit Chinas capital in 60 years. Like any other day, he searched for his My Beijing WLAN network on his handset, and to his delight it was still there, enabling him to access microblogs, WeChat (Chinas equivalent of WhatsApp), and the web at large, proving WLAN a practical technology in this age of extreme weather. With the rapid popularization of smart devices, WLAN is transforming the way users enjoy broadband services. It is an economical supplement for traffic offload, enabling operators to provide premium, differentiated data services. Currently,
China Mobile has more than 1.6 million access points (APs) and plans to build over six million more over the next three years, but fixed network carriers can also employ WLAN for traffic sharing with mobile carriers, thus enabling them to attract more customers, improve brand awareness & customer loyalty, and explore new broadband commercial models. BT, for example, has already deployed over four million WLAN hotspots throughout the U.K., making WLAN one of its key growth areas, and the fever is spreading to carriers worldwide.
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for WLAN carriage. China Mobiles Shanxi provincial branch has confirmed that WLAN over PON represents a 10% cost savings over what switches would command. By leveraging its legacy FTTx, the operator has been able to deploy WLAN very rapidly, at a speed of 20,000 APs per month. In terms of WL AN traffic, PON devices outperform POE switches in many aspects. Operators often need aggregation switches for WLAN traffic, which are then placed between the end-access and central office switches. However, power supply is a pressing conundrum. Coordination with the power company is both troublesome and expensive, as are the extra electricity meters needed when power must be supplied to each convergence switch. PON, on the other hand, replaces aggregation switches with passive splitters, while its deployment is relatively flexible, making for less O&M outlay and easier management. As for WLAN traffic, PON ONU devices are diverse, with capacities of 8, 16, and 24 ports available, while power supply can be AC or DC, indoors or out. PON technology also enables better utilization of legacy resources, especially the OLT/ODN networks. China Mobiles enthusiasm for WLAN over PON is well documented, and is helping motivate China Telecom to follow suit.
most of its WLAN APs outdoors, making for a strenuous ONU environment, but Huawei provides its outdoor MA5669 MDU, which supports 2GE output and can work in temperatures ranging from -40C to 55C, while also featuring an IP55 protection rating and 6KV surge protection. This unit can be mounted inconspicuously on walls, cables, and poles, without affecting the surrounding view; it also supports flexible GPON/GE upstream networking, where only a single engineer is needed for installation and operation. The MA5669 MDU has been highly recognized by Beijing Telecom since its launch, and more than 1000 units are presently in place. O&M is always a major concern for carriers, but Huaweis U2000 network solution can help by managing both GPON and POE. POE can be enabled and disabled in a safe and prioritized manner. When device power consumption exceeds the total POE output, the POE power supply is disabled for low priority devices to ensure power output for the key ones. U2000 can also query POE output and display the network systems running status and remaining expansion capacity. Its ONU devices are also plug-and-play; when powered, they automatically download configurations and even software from the network management system, streamlining their own installation and O&M. As mentioned previously, FTTW better utilizes legacy network resources, particularly OLT/ODN networks, and can be deployed together with FTTH and FTTB (reducing OPEX). Thanks to Huaweis FTTW solution, China Mobile Shandong (Shandong Mobile) has successfully constructed WLAN mobile backhaul networks in 17 cities, having deployed up to 50,000 WLAN APs (with 54Mbps peak access) in areas such as colleges, traffic hubs, and other population centers. In June 2012, Shandong Mobile boasted over five million WLAN users and 640,000 APs, covering over 70,000 hot spots in Shandong province, making for the top-ranked WLAN user base and service duration nationwide. According to the DellOro Group, the WLAN market will continue to grow, with networks bringing in over USD8 billion in 2015. More than half of global Internet traffic is expected to come from WLAN, and FTTx+WLAN is forecast to become the primary ultrabroadband access approach for the future. Currently, Huaweis FTTW solution is in use throughout China, and should have an impact internationally in the near future. As a maturing technology, FTTW will play an ever important role in WLAN construction, making for a bright future for anyone involved. Editor: Xu Shenglan xushenglan@huawei.com
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Copper Reborn
Thanks to new technologies such as Vectoring and G.fast, copper is being revitalized as an integral part of ultra-broadband networking.
COPPER REBORN
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Giga DSL: Gigabit access over copper COMBO: Broadband ability, narrowband reliability FTTB/C sites: Where it all comes together
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Giga DSL: Gigabit access over copper 100Mbps downlink speed, while Giga DSL expands the frequency range to 100MHz, and can be further extended to 200MHz, enabling far superior downlink. interval approximately twelve times larger than that for the former. As an added bonus, Giga DSL is compatible with legacy DSL technology, including ADSL2+/VDSL2, so operation can continue during the upgrade process.
Discontinuous modality
Giga DSL has relatively lower power consumption in terms of signal transmission and line drivers, but higher consumption in digital signal processors and digital-analog converters, thanks to the higher frequency bands employed. When the transmission rate is low, Giga DSL uses discontinuous modes and disables some timeslots, requiring no modulation on either the transmission or reception side, while digital signal processors, digital-analog converters, and line drivers can be disabled or kept in sleep mode to conserve power. Compared with ADSL2+/VDSL2, which require 100mW signal transmission power, Giga DSL requires a hundred times less.
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COMBO
Network reconstruction takes a bite
s subscribers constantly hunger for higher-bandwidth services such as IPTV, fixed operators are pressured to reconstruct and accelerate their networks for broadband by any means necessary. This often means either fiber replacement or implementation of VDSL2 or some other copper accelerator, but thats not the end of it. In light of increasing broadband speeds, considerable antiquated narrowband equipment on the legacy network is expected to be phased out, which means concurrent reconstruction of the narrowband & broadband infrastructure. G e n e r a l l y, n a r r o w b a n d a n d broadband services each have their own network management system (NMS), with the networks themselves constructed separately. This leads to very high costs for both construction and maintenance, and whats worse, the following issues have to be overcome. Limited space Legacy public switched telephone network (PSTN) equipment is far too sparsely ported to sustain broadband services, while its bulk leaves little room for further construction. Complex jumper settings When broadband services are deployed over PSTN, jumpers have to be set repeatedly (an arduous process) for connection
Huawei COMBO solution is the optimal solution for fixed network reconstruction at reduced cost. With COMBO, seamless coverage of broadband services can be achieved on fixed networks. Residences can make phone calls via narrowband, while enjoying broadband data services concurrently, on a scale never before achieved.
By Zhang Quanfeng
of narrowband devices with Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) devices. Frequent site visits If broadband services are deployed in unattended equipment rooms or street cabinets, revisits are needed for board installation and jumper setting, and these can be quite expensive. In Europe, an engineer might be paid roughly 140 euros for a single site visit, not counting any changes in jumper settings. Multiply this by several thousand and you have a downright scary proposition. narrowband ser vices. In addition, equipment room space, distribution cabling, and main distribution frame (MDF) usage can be reduced by 50%, 75%, and 66%, respectively, with cabling efficiency improved by half. As would be needed with such a dense solution, COMBO exhibits exceptional heat dissipation. Huawei employs lowpower chips (10% less per port) to optimize component layout, while adopting an advanced design that tackles the relevant heat conduction issues. With its intelligent power management system, COMBO disables broadband ports automatically if the mains fail, so critical voice services last longer when needed most. Huawei COMBO solution boasts not just cutting-edge technology, but also business enhancement. A carrier in Europe adopted COMBO for its legacy network, providing broadband and narrowband service access for all ports. This allowed them to offer a package called free broadband for life to its narrowband customers. Its customer base shot up by 500,000 within three months. Hu a w e i C O M B O s o l u t i o n c a n make a serious dent in your CAPEX and OPEX, while greatly boosting your operational efficiency. Site revisits are all but eliminated, with greatly enhanced board capacity to boot. As a money saver, COMBO is second to none for fixed network reconstruction.
Editor: Xu Shenglan xushenglan@huawei.com
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COMBO solution
Huawei COMBO solution features a new service board that can process both broadband and narrowband services, while optimizing other elements of fixed network reconstruction and operational efficiency. Thanks to its 48 VDSL2/ADSL2+ ports, 48 POTS ports, and 48 splitters, all densely integrated into one 237.00mm x 395.40mm service board, carriers will be largely spared the burden of network reconstruction and cable routing, while 48 different users can enjoy narrowband and broadband services concurrently. The splitter is placed on the COMBO b o a rd , m a k i n g c o m p l e x e x t e r n a l jumper setting in the equipment room unnecessary, while facilitating rapid deployment of broadband and
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FTTB/C sites: Where it all comes together
ixed fiber deployment represents a serious cost savings for incumbents with widespread legacy copper. Besides reducing the logistical headaches involved in routing fiber through the bowels of older buildings, FTTB/C also reduces the number of door visits, while shortening service provisioning times, and thus the wait for payback. Impact on both personnel and the legacy network management system is also reduced, making for reduced investments in development, integration, and training. In 2011, 41 of the worlds top 100 carriers adopted mixed FTTB/FTTC/ 25
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FTTH construction, while the overall scale of FTTB/C construction saw a 37.1% increase over 2010 levels, making FTTB/C site construction an increasing part of the average operators workload.
100Mbps) over the twisted pairs in place. The FTTB/C site acquisition process is expensive and arduous but worthwhile as each site makes for a convergence point for fiber, copper, and electrical lines, enabling transmission rates of 10G/40G and access modes such as VDSL2, LAN, xPON, and Wi-Fi at the users end. FTTB/C sites will evolve to become small integrated regional equipment rooms in the future functioning as the capacity centers for bandwidth expansion, power supply, mobile backhaul, and network management, and ultimately the core control point for both mobile & fixed operation.
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Acceleration center
Bandwidth expansion is the key function of any FTTB/C site, and since these sites are moving downward (with access devices getting closer to the end user), bandwidth is expanding thanks to reduced signal attenuation over the twisted pairs. But of course, FTTB/C only postpones the inevitable if it is not future-proof. This is where Huawei comes in with New Copper Cable, which enables smooth site evolution, providing greater bandwidth through mere capacity expansion and software upgrade, delivering long-term benefit with minimal effort. By leveraging ADSL2+ technology, NCC provides access bandwidth of 20Mbps or lower, with upgrade to 50Mbps or above possible through board replacement and VDSL2 utilization; even 100Mbps can be reached via Bonding and Vectoring, both of which require a mere software upgrade. Whats more, Super MIMO and Giga DSL technologies expand the bandwidth to the 200Mbps to 1Gbps range. On the transport layer, operators can carry out the evolutions from GE to 10GE and PON to 10G PON or 40G PON through simple replacement of the interface board or optical module.
they will power their lower-layer devices with ease. Currently, this solution is being used for a variety of FTTB/C scenarios involving video surveillance and Wi-Fi coverage in China.
Backhaul center
With the rapid development of MBB, fixed carrier networks will probably become part of the mobile backhaul infrastructure in the near future. As ubiquitous endpoints for the former, FTTB/ C sites will become the optimal access points for mobile backhaul. Firstly, though a regional coverage center, an FTTB/C site will highly overlap in coverage and partially overlap in location with small cells, so existing site resources can be reused. Secondly, as the access convergence point, an FTTB/C site can provide reliable PON, P2P, and xDSL interfaces for small cells, by leveraging existing fiber resources. Huawei FTTB/C sites provide multiple access modes, support various clock interfaces and type B/C protections, and are suitable for enterprise, WLAN, and base station services, helping to implement fast, low-cost, and highly reliable backhaul.
Power center
Power supply is a key concern in FTTB/FTTC site construction. Normally, FTTC sites are poleadjacent for aerial line access or near a manhole for powering by the underground mains. Legacy twisted pairs can both take power in and transmit it to remote devices. However, things are not all wine and roses here. Municipal and real estate regulations can restrict power supply access or make it prohibitively expensive to carry out video surveillance or power Wi-Fi devices near an FTTB/C site. Under these circumstances, the site itself must play a central role in the supply of power. Fortunately, this scenario brings two benefits. The first is integrated device management and metering, while the second is the lack of a need for standby power supply for the aforementioned lower-layer devices; both significantly cut down on construction & maintenance costs. Huaweis FTTB/C site solution, as a key element of Huawei NCC, accommodates remote power supply technologies such as power over Ethernet (POE), low-voltage DC supply, and high-voltage DC supply, enabling operators to choose how
Management center
Traditional MSAN sites are usually managed less intelligently as they are large in capacity, small in number, and centralized in location, with dedicated personnel involved in their daily maintenance. However, with FTTB/C sites, everything is the opposite; they require more intelligent management so that they themselves can manage in three different areas. The first is management of all devices within the coverage area through e-labeling so that elements are monitored, consumptive ones especially, so damage or loss can be dealt with immediately. The second is assurance that all devices within coverage run stably and economically, through intelligent management methods for batteries, consumption, and autonomous power supply adaptation. Lastly, these sites must manage all lines within coverage, with the assistance of the line management system, so that fault location/troubleshooting are smooth & efficient. With these functions in place, FTTB/ C sites are brought into the era of intelligent management, making for sharp reductions in operator OPEX. Editor: Joyce Fan joyce.fan@huawei.com
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Mobile Ubiquity
As multi-layer, multi-mode convergence becomes the norm in mobile communications, LTE TDD, with its many advantages, has gone mainstream, putting it on the fast track for growth.
MOBILE UBIQUITY
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eMBMS keeps mobile video rolling eRelay simplifies wireless backhaul LTE spectrum utilization: Its a jungle out there LTE TDD broadens your VPN
spectrum within the crowded 2GHz band needed for viable FDD service, while in the meantime, 700MHz of spectrum has already been allocated for LTE TDD beyond 2GHz, including the 2.3, 2.6, and 3.5GHz bands. Moreover, LTE TDD employs asymmetric spectrum, which better simulates real-life traffic patterns and makes acquisition of continuous blocks quite a bit easier. All these factors combine to indicate a mainstream technology with a bright future.
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LTE TDD: Unpaired & unleashed interference minimization, traffic balance among technologies, reduction of handover/delay, vendor compatibility, and user experience integrity/ consistency. Another challenge is the fact that user experience cannot be compromised during the network transition. Post-launch, frequent network handover is inevitable, due to the sporadic nature of the initial LTE coverage. Handover success between networks must exceed 99% and service interruption must be shorter than one second before a one network user experience can be realized across different technologies. For this to occur, a flat network architecture is needed where GSM/UMTS/LTE converge. site acquisition is needed. Shared site support resources include the equipment room, power distribution system, transmission equipment, antenna system, and tower itself, helping to minimize the cost of network deployment. Less OPEX In terms of high-cost and/or highinput network optimization services, operators can integrate O&M through the Huawei M2000, while implementing self-organizing optimization through Huawei SingleSON, without any extra input from personnel. In this way, convergence of sites, O&M, optimization is realized. To ensure legacy vendor compatibility, Huawei bridges the gap with our e-coordinator equipment, eliminating the steep OPEX that goes into software upgrade for the relevant equipment. Cross-mode interworking Network interworking involves network entry, camping, reselection, and handover, with the latter encompassing redirection, voice handover, and data handover. With the various interworking triggering policies already supported by the wireless air interfaces, unified business experiences can be ensured. In terms of network entry, camping, and reselection, policies that vary by prioritization of frequency, cell, and cell coverage are adopted, while for terminal access, the wireless network and preset public land mobile network (PLMN) prioritization from the subscriber identity module (SIM) are
Huawei solutions
As a leader in the LTE TDD field, bolstered by its unified SingleRAN platform (a mature wireless interworking solution for different network standards), Huawei can enable the best convergent user experience in existence, helping operators succeed on both the commercial and technical fronts. Less CAPEX With the SingleRAN hardware platform, operators can upgrade existing GSM/ UMTS sites to support LTE features; no additional
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followed. Taken together, operators can set flexible policies for LTE networks, with minimum impact on services. For handover, redirection technology ensures that upper-layer services can be rerouted to another network when terminals do not support internetwork handover, ensuring minimal service disruption; this is especially helpful post-launch. In terms of service handover, adoption of circuit switched fallback (CSFB) and 3GPPs Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) technologies for voice and PS transition for data, along with enhanced solutions such as Flash CSFB and CSFB, based on location area identity (LAI), help further refine the service experience, enabling smooth service handover that escapes the users notice. Thanks to diverse handover triggering algorithms, mobility management can be realized as needed to support wireless coverage, load balancing, frequency prioritization, uplink quality, service prioritization, distances, S1 failures, and eNodeB overload, which combined together, form the key elements in any operators interworking strategy.
A complete ecosystem
The 3GPP had defined interoperability standards between LTE and GSM/UMTS as early
as the first standardization of LTE (Release 8). Over three years of refinements spanning Releases 9, 10, and 11, these standards have become quite complete, forming a solid basis for the ecosystem now in place. In terms of terminals, mainstream chip vendors such as Qualcomm, HiSilicon, and Altair all have offerings compliant with 3GPP R8 and R9, while mainstream terminal vendors have released nearly 100 LTE TDD multi-mode terminals, encompassing dongles, Mi-Fi devices, CPE, and smartphones, the latter of which now make possible convergent commercial applications such as CSFB and PS handover. Mainstream vendors of wireless gear, core network equipment, and terminal chips have finished interoperability tests (IOTs) for 3GPP R9 and R10 standards. Huawei is among them, having completed IOT testing in partnership with industry-leading chipset and terminal vendors, as well as vendors of evolved packet core (EPC) equipment. Huawei, having no fear of the surge in network data, is ready to cooperate with the industry at large to create what its CEO calls, pipes as wide as the Pacific Ocean, with LTE TDD serving as the bedrock. Editor: Pearl Zhu zhuwenli@huawei.com
As a leader in the LTE TDD field, bolstered by its unified SingleRAN platform, Huawei can enable the best convergent user experience in existence, helping operators succeed on both the commercial and technical fronts.
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eMBMS keeps mobile video rolling
market with great potential. Broadcast video has been a focus thanks to its advantages in cost efficiency and user access. Multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) over UMTS networks hit the industry about five years ago, but the outcome has not been satisfactory, as most content has been generated from traditional TV programs, which have proven less than ideal for the fragmented mobile viewing experience. In 2010, 3GPP Release 9 marked the beginning of evolved MBMS (eMBMS) technology for LTE networks, which, with its point-to-multipoint capability, can better utilize existing spectrum/networks, providing effective delivery of broadcast and multicast services. In 2011, Huawei launched its eMBMS LTE video solution, which provides high-quality broadcast video and push services. With this solution, operators can ensure the mobile video experience, while enhancing LTE spectrum efficiency, as one band can serve multiple viewers.
Huawei Communicate
services decrease, operators can promote multicast services over idle resources. Operators can also adjust the proportion of video and push services, enabling flexible time-based service offerings. As shown in Figure 1, unicast demand wanes between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., leading to idle resources in any LTE network. With Huawei LTE video, operators can step up the push traffic during this time period, and reduce the bandwidth usage by multicast services the rest of the time, ensuring a better unicast experience. Bandwidth can also be evaluated for push and video services, with the number of channels adjusted accordingly. Huawei LTE video helps synergize unicast and broadcast services by using the latter to increase unicast traffic, producing more revenue for operators. Operators can push news highlights, music videos, movie trailers, and the like, to users, who click for more information by using unicast services. During a football match, users can click a comment button, opening a transparent onscreen window where ideas and feedback can be shared. Users can also view the football players vital statistics and professional record by clicking a different button. If they are interested in what is being sold to them, they can click the advertisements. Huaweis LTE video solution helps operators transform their businesses. Thanks to the high bandwidth of LTE, carriers can provide a variety of ad services. Highlights from the runway can be shared with fashionistas, including the relevant textiles, prices, and outlets, enabling operators and advertisers to tighten their partnerships, with the former focusing on user experience and the latter innovating services. Both can help operators go beyond the usual pipe business, making them hip and relevant again through an enhanced user experience. Editor: Michael huangzhuojian@huawei.com
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eRelay simplifies wireless backhaul
n July 20, 2012, the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour took place at Madrids L a s Ve n t a s s t a d i u m , Spains largest bullfighting arena. To meet the communication needs of the more than 32,000 spectators, a local operator deployed small cells to cover the arena. This, in and of itself, was not challenging. The rub was that the backhaul wiring had to remain inconspicuous at this historic site; eRelay, Huaweis wireless backhaul solution, was the answer.
use for data offload and improved indoor coverage. When clustered, they create a new capacity layer on top of the macro cells, forming a heterogeneous network. The benefits are straightforward, as they enable enhanced capacity over existing spectrum. ABI Research predicts that the global small cell market will hit USD14.4 billion in 2017, but their backhaul is a growing concern. There are currently three major small cell backhaul options on the market fiber, xDSL, and microwave. Fiber delivers large capacity with little delay, but there are tradeoffs in terms of proximity and cost; xDSL can meet the needs of basic backhaul, but it proves inadequate in high-capacity scenarios,
while microwave supports line-of-sight (LOS) transmission only. For non-lineof-sight (NLOS) scenarios, additional nodes are needed to convert NLOS propagation paths into multiple LOS paths, which inevitably increases the total cost of ownership (TCO).
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Through its mix of economy, timeliness, and performance, this solution tackles the small cell last-mile backhaul challenges seen with hotspots, indoor scenarios, and suburban areas. Huawei eRelay consists of base stations and remote radio nodes (RRNs), connected through the air interface and centrally managed via the M2000 management system. And whats more, its base stations can be upgraded to support LTE TDD through a simple update, protecting the initial investment. Easy deployment Base stations can be colocated with macro base stations. Thanks to its advanced distributed structure, an eRelay base station is divided into baseband units (BBUs) and remote radio units (RRUs). BBUs can be placed in indoor cabinets or in Huawei outdoor integrated power cabinets (APM30H) with power supply in place, while RRUs can be mounted on poles, towers, or walls, and installed near antennas to reduce feeder loss and increase backhaul distance. Similarly, RRNs can be mounted on poles or walls near small cells, and powered via Ethernet (PoE). PtMP Featuring PtMP technology, eRelay base stations use directional sector antennas for increased coverage and can each support multiple small cells via corresponding RRNs. The air interface can be shared and scheduled dynamically between multiple RRNs, based on service priority and data throughput, making for most efficient usage. RRNs for one base station can forward data directly amongst one another, enabling small cells to exchange service data at the local level. NLOS propagation Huawei eRelay supports NLOS propagation, meaning that angular adjustment requirements for base stations and RRN antennas will be less strict, making for simplified installation/commissioning, lower O&M costs, and more flexible deployment in complex environments. Higher transmission bandwidth MIMO and 64-QAM improve air interface throughput, increasing the transmission bandwidth for a single sector to 80Mbps for downlink and 50Mbps for uplink. Simple O&M management The M2000 system can be utilized for centralized maintenance and upgrade of eRelay base stations and RRN software, reducing O&M costs. Besides sending alarms, M2000 can also analyze and display channel quality, as well as throughput, for base stations and RRNs. RRNs also have LED indicators that aid fault diagnostics.
Technical highlights
L2 transmission As eRelay supports L2 transmission, there is no need to reserve IP addresses for base stations or RRNs, nor do additional IP routes need to be configured. Small cells are connected to RRNs via FE cable, without the need for further configuration, which reduces the IP routing for the overall network and simplifies network configuration. VLAN Huawei eRelay controls broadcast packets within each VLAN to reduce unnecessary overhead and improve overall transmission performance, while also enhancing data security through transmission isolation between different ones. The M2000 enables packet capture of source IP addresses, destination IP addresses, or VLANs, specified at the Ethernet port of the eRelay base station. The captured packets are buffered at the base station level and can be downloaded to local workstations for further analysis. Base stations can also facilitate routine maintenance via loopback check for transmission ports. Clock synchronization Synchronization is key to any wireless system. High-precision clock systems are critical to ensuring service integrity during handover, while 3G technologies such as TD-SCDMA and CDMA2000 also have strict requirements for phase synchronization; both methods are supported by eRelay, which uses GPS or IEEE 1588v2 as clock sources for its own synchronization, while supporting transparent transmission of IP clock packets so that UMTS and LTE frequencies are synchronized. End-to-end QoS Huawei eRelay implements the Differentiated Services (DiffServ) model for end-to-end QoS. Internal queuing methods include priority queue and weighted fair queue. Uplink and downlink data are mirrored on the queues, based on differentiated services code point (DSCP) and VLAN priorities. The system then schedules air interface traffic according to the mirroring relationship between internal queue and QoS class identifier. The Huawei eRelay solution ensures QoS through optimal capacity planning, as it is costly and wasteful to prepare backhaul capacity according to the peak throughput for each small cell; eRelay can strike the balance between cost and capacity by setting the baseline capacity to equal or double the average busy-hour throughput, ensuring service quality and reducing deployment costs in the process. Editor: Yao Haifei julia.yao@huawei.com
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Mobile Ubiquity
LTE spectrum utilization: Its a jungle out there
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700MHz 800MHz 850MHz 900MHz 1500MHz 1700MHz 1800MHz 1900MHz 2100MHz 2300MHz 2600MHz 3500MHz
GSM
Gbps Mbps
LTE FDD
UMTS
CDMA
Kbps
LTE TDD/LTE FDD UMTS 2100MHz GSM/LTE 1800MHz GSM/UMTS 900MHz
TD-SCDMA
GSM 1800MHz GSM 900MHz UMTS 2100MHz GSM 1800MHz GSM/UMTS 900MHz
LTE TDD
WiMAX
due to the full release of 100MHz in 2.3GHz and 400MHz in the 3.5GHz band. However, TDDs rise is not just a matter of spectrum availability, as FDD is proving more useful in theory than it is in practice. One primary hurdle has been frequency clearance. The U.S. was able to get 700MHz cleared earlier than most places, leaving 1800MHz refarming a hot topic of conversation around the world, but this could take a long time in some cases. Frequency blocks at 800MHz started becoming available in 2011 in Western Europe, but they havent come cheap, and the rest of the world is probably still a long way off in terms of frequency clearance. TDD has enjoyed a cost advantage in recent years, but this looks to be on the wane as cashstrapped governments are looking to raise revenue by any means necessary. In 2010, Austria completed a spectrum auction where the price per MHz per population was EUR0.029 and EUR0.012 for 2.6GHz FDD and TDD, respectively (a 59% advantage for TDD). One year later, the figures rose to EUR0.057 for FDD and EUR0.046 for TDD in Belgium. Both economic conditions and growing acceptance of TDD as a viable technology are probably in play here. Upcoming spectrum releases lie primarily beyond 2GHz, where TDD dominates, making it the likely choice for operators not content to wait for more FDD frequency to open up. This would indicate that the future of networking for the rest of this decade will involve the technological convergence of LTE FDD/UMTS/GSM with LTE TDD/UMTS/GSM into LTE FDD/LTE TDD/ UMTS/GSM.
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LTE spectrum utilization: Its a jungle out there
Device availability
According to a GSA report released in November 2012, the number of LTE devices has tripled since the same time a year ago, reaching 560 models (including 151 smartphones) furnished by 83 manufacturers; 115 of them supported LTE TDD. Multi-band, multi-mode LTE-TDD Mi-Fi, USB, and CPE devices are commercially available from all major chipset and device manufacturers, and primarily support bands 38 to 43 (as well as the major FDD/UMTS/GSM bands), while twelve multi-mode LTE TDD smartphones are currently on the market. Others are joining in, such as those intended for the 3.5GHz LTE TDD network launched in the U.K. on June 28, 2012.
200,000 TD-SCDMA base stations to LTE TDD. However, this is not the whole story. In June 2012, China Mobiles Hangzhou branch announced and demonstrated successful roaming between its own LTE TDD network and an FDD network in Hong Kong. This latter milestone in particularly important as frequency harmonization is crucial to both an operators roaming policies and MBB services, as well as national policy goals and the overall smartphone market. Regulatory certainty is key here, but work is needed regarding frequency arrangement, coexistence issues, and cross-border coordination.
Huawei Communicate
Traditional auctions
It is vital that the LTE bandwidth available for operators be wide enough to enable the high-speed performance that the market expects. Regulators should ensure that operators get at least 20MHz in TDD or 2x10MHz in FDD contiguous bandwidth so that long-term business viability can be guaranteed. However, full availability of a new frequency band for LTE is not always observed in some countries. The EU is working on a more dynamic approach (see below) called Licensed Shared Access (LSA).
BRICs Brazil Russia India China
1.9GHz
2.3GHz
2.5/2.6GHz
3.5GHz
Asia-Pacific Region Australia Hong Kong Indonesia Japan Korea Malaysia New Zealand Philippines Singapore Taiwan Thailand Europe Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Ireland Italy Norway Poland Spain Sweden U.K. MENA Ghana Nigeria Oman Saudi Arabia North America Canada U.S. TDD Released (LTE TDD) TDD Release Soon / Planning Sources: Huawei Wireless MI
Table 1 Global LTE TDD spectrum status (key markets for illustration only)
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Mobile Ubiquity
LTE TDD broadens your VPN
VPNs are safe, easy to manage & maintain, and controllable. After more than a decade of development, VPNs based on fixed networks are already widely adopted, serving as an essential ICT solution component for enterprises of all sizes. However, traditional VPNs based on fixed networks have inherent limitations. For one thing, they only go as far as fixed networks can take them, and they can seem an extravagant luxury for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). LTE can take traditional VPNs further in terms of availability and geographic coverage.
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Compared with fixed access, an LTE network is easier to deploy and has a much wider coverage, making outdoor and mobile VPN access possible. LTE TDD, in particular, allows flexible subframe configuration for uplink and downlink. For instance, the downlink/uplink ratio can be set at 3:1, which would suit most enterprise applications perfectly, including email, web browsing, ERP, and CRM (all are heavily weighted towards downlink). Another obvious advantage comes from LTEs superior throughput. For a 20MHz LTE TDD frequency block shared by both downlink and uplink, downlink throughput can reach as high as 110Mbps. In addition, LTE has a much shorter delay; the delay between an LTE base station and user terminal is less than 10ms, compared to 50ms for HSPA+ and 150ms for WCDMA. LTE-based VPNs also make sense for the operator, as monthly ARPU for VPN rental can exceed those for basic Internet access by a factor of ten. These networks also give operators a chance to add other value-added services to the equation, making for a very lucrative opportunity.
four categories: mobile office (individual-level), integrated VPN (SMB-level), L2TP VPN or L2 VPN (both enterprise-level).
Mobile office
In this scenario, PCs are used in conjunction with LTE devices such as dongles or customer premises equipment (CPE) to establish a VPN connection. In this case, the operators network serves purely as a pipe for data transmission, thus rendering the enterprises VPN activities invisible and monthly VPN charging impossible. Users in such a scenario are basically common LTE users, and are charged accordingly, which may not be very exciting in itself, but such users are likely to purchase premium options, remain loyal, and be willing to expand their VPN services into something more lucrative if their business takes off.
Integrated VPN
This model is most suitable for SMBs, and its technical advantage is that it requires no additional network elements, making both deployment and O&M simple & economical. Routing is typically handled via CPE, with the entire LTE network acting as a large VPN access gateway. In this way, an enterprise private line of sorts is enabled, creating a secure, dedicated, and broad connection
Multiple scenarios
LTE-based VPN services can fall under one of
LTE-based VPNs also make sense for the operator, as monthly ARPU for VPN rental can exceed those for basic Internet access by a factor of ten. These networks also give operators a chance to add other value-added services to the equation, making for a very lucrative opportunity.
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LTE TDD broadens your VPN channel that is relatively secure, reliable, and pleasant to use. In terms of billing, users are charged via CPE using the normal LTE billing standard. QoSbased tiered pricing or billing based on the number of branches can also be introduced to increase revenue. These billing methods apply to L2TP VPN and L2 VPN as well. L2 VPN means less impact and re-engineering for enterprises with existing fixed network-based services. However, it requires significant investment from both operators and enterprises, and has certain requirements for several network elements, such as the terminals and the core network. It is also more complicated to operate & manage, while its protocol stack is complex, as more layers of data need to be encapsulated, leading to less efficiency at the air interface.
L2TP VPN
Like integrated VPN, Level 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) VPN is also a Level 3 VPN solution. L2TP VPN is a feasible solution for large enterprises, or those with existing fixed network-based Level 3 VPN services. Access routers (AR) are added at the enterprises headquarters and branches, while provider equipment (PE) is deployed on the operator network side where it functions as the VPN gateway, making for effective Level 3 VPN functionality. One advantage for this solution, at least as far as the operator is concerned, is that it works with a multi-vendor LTE network. To improve security, the operator can install an additional PE unit at the clients headquarters, but there are tradeoffs in terms of deployment cost and O&M.
L2 VPN
For enterprises with legacy fixed or WiMAXbased VPNs, L2 VPN facilitates smooth service expansion to LTE network technology, reducing the need to revamp the legacy gear. This solution is very similar to L2TP VPN in that ARs must be deployed at the branches and at headquarters, serving as the customer equipment for LTE CPE, with gateway PE deployed on the network side; the difference is that L2 VPN can transmit Level 2 tags transparently, while L2TP can only do so at Level 3. In terms of management, as ARs must be added for each branch and there are diverse requirements for LTE CPE, this solution requires more capital investment & maintenance, while daily management is somewhat more complex than that for the abovementioned solutions. Among the enterprise-grade solutions, integrated VPN requires the least amount of investment and is easiest to deploy, meeting the needs of most SMBs and SOHO users. L2TP VPN, however, better suits large enterprises with multiple branches. As the fixed network normally uses Level 2 VPN, LTE 41
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Huawei Communicate
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Open-access national broadband networking has broken the traditional business mold of an operator building, operating, and running their own network for service provisioning, enabling openness, sharing, innovation, and competition.
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
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Network integration makes for smooth NBN deployment HD will succeed where bit rates have failed Making WLAN work
Open-access NBN
Broadbands strategic importance to national competitiveness and GDP is being increasingly recognized on the national and international stage, making it vital to the competitiveness and general well being of any country. In such a situation, open access is naturally the better way.
By Wang Qin & Yi Wengen
tudies by both the Brookings Institution and World Bank, among others, have echoed the finding that a 10% increase in national broadband penetration leads to a GDP uptick of 0.25 to 1.38%. So far, roughly 50 countries have officially released national broadband plans, including Britain (NGA plan), Singapore (NG-NBN), Malaysia (HSBB), New Zealand (UFB), Australia, Qatar, and Cameroon.
To be or not to be open
Due to the high costs of broadband over copper, fixed network operators once faced a tricky balancing act between profitability and service quality; if subsidies were unavailable, steep initial charges for installation were the norm. This resulted in users being serviced by monopolies who lacked the incentive to innovate, an unsatisfactory situation that led to
certain European countries mandating privatization and the opening of copper infrastructure. With the copper at the central office (CO)-end opened, retail service providers (RSPs) can build digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) at this end to develop services for users, who now have a choice of broadband provider. In this case, incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) are effectively pushed to enhance their networks for better service quality. In recent years, as FTTx has become the norm for national broadband, the traditional monopolized broadband construction model has become a hindrance to broadband penetration. To promote competition, regulatory bodies in some countries have put forward an open access model where governments or authorized operators are responsible for the network architecture construction, including both the passive and active elements, enabling RSPs to directly rent bandwidth and efficiently provide users with diversified services.
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Open-access national broadband
Open-access model
National broadband networks usually involve three parties providers of passive networks (including resources such as pipes, fiber, and copper), providers of active networks (including telco devices related to the access, aggregate, and core network), and RSPs who lease bandwidth to provide services to users. In terms of open access, there are three different modes in commercial use. For the first, the passive network is open for RSP lease, which is common with European ADSL or VDSL networks, as well as European P2P fiber access, thanks to a favorable regulatory environment for all. Frances telco regulator (ARCEP) sets up rules where Orange lays the outdoor ducting while estate developers do the indoor work, with both outdoor and indoor resources open to all. For the second mode, Layer-2 bitstream bandwidth is open for RSP lease, with the underlying passive and active networks constructed by a leading telco (or the government). One example is Britains FTTx network, which British Telecom started constructing in 2009 to provide services directly to users while leasing to RSPs at the same time. In the case of Malaysia, the government invests, with incumbent Telekom Malaysia actually constructing the NBN, which both accelerates the construction process, reduces its overall costs, and promotes fair competition among third-party operators. This approach has often been used in concert with FTTH, as seen in Australia and New Zealand. The last approach is quite different in that the passive network provider, active network provider, and RSPs are completely independent from one another. Specifically, the former sells physical resources to the active network provider, who then wholesales bandwidth to RSPs. At present, only Singapores next-generation nationwide broadband network (NG-NBN) operates in this way. On the whole, this approach promotes free competition and a fairly level playfield, as the government invests heavily and regulates stringently to ensure a relatively low market price. However, it is challenging to integrate all these pieces together and still be able to troubleshoot effectively, thanks to the separation of duties between numerous parties, making this approach ill-suited to larger, more populous states. With the development of FTTC/Vectoring technology, new NBN challenges are coming to 45
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light that relate to the opening of copper. Without Vectoring, FTTC allows for physical copper line opening. Countries such as France and Germany require the installation of multiple DSLAMs in street cabinets during open physical-layer deployment. However, Vectoring requires that users on the same bundle of copper be connected to the same DSLAM so that crosstalk can be calculated and avoided. In the case of the second aforementioned mode, which is used in the U.K., BT is the sole builder of the entire network, and it leases bandwidth to RSPs, through FTTH or FTTC, without affecting Vectoring deployment. However, for the other two approaches, where the physical resources are open for lease, this is a big problem. One way to avoid this issue is NLV (nodelevel Vectoring), which allows DSLAMs at the same node to communicate to share Vectoring information, though this technology is not yet commercialized and has communication difficulties when the DSLAMs belong to different operators; thus, some countries choose not to open, or have different regions for different operators.
Open-access ecosystem
Open-access national broadband brings new opportunities and challenges to the entire telco ecosystem, including governments, regulators, incumbents & their competitors, RSPs, equipment providers, and end users. Governments & regulators: In June 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released a report calling for nations to enhance their competitiveness through NBN. During the ITU Telecom World h e l d i n Ge n e va i n Oc t o b e r 2 0 1 1 , t h e U N Broadband Commission for Digital Development set four new global broadband development targets for 2015 popularize broadband, reduce broadband entry barriers, provide home access, and promote public Internet access. Governments are undoubtedly the primary force taking up this call. However, before setting goals or making plans, they must confer with consultancies, the public, and other governments & operators. Funding can be either direct investment or partial subsidy, but its scope should consider the coverage and bandwidth needed, as well as the viable technologies. Regulators need to formulate policies for openaccess models, wholesale prices, and responsibility
Huawei Communicate
allocation among the various stakeholders, making periodic adjustments as needed. The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) separates the different layers of its NG-NBN to optimize open access and implement cross-carriage rules that allow consumers to enjoy content via another RSPs infrastructure, avoiding the high costs involved when access rights are exclusive. ILECs: ILECs need to seize their opportunities in NBN and play an active role in passive & active network construction; they should also leverage their considerable legacy pipe resources whenever possible. Initially, when governments start establishing goals, ILECs can provide advice and feedback so that the relevant mandates/regulations are feasible. Malaysias NBN construction commenced in 2009 with an investment of MYR240 million (USD79 million). It is estimated that this network will boost national GDP by MYR1.6 billion and create 100,000 jobs by 2017. Telekom Malaysia has been entrusted to build the network platform, including the passive and active elements. With this cooperative approach, FTTH coverage has quickly reached 35%, with CAPEX reduced by 36%; these saved funds are being funneled into more tertiary matters that will ensure the proper development of the NBN ecosystem. The operator is also committed to opening its network and wholesaling the bandwidth to other operators for fair access assurance of broadband for schools, research institutions, remote areas, and other official purposes, making for a situation where the government, operators, and end users win. CLECs: National broadband also gives competing operators a great opportunity to boost brand equity and market positioning. Nucleus Connect (NC), NetCo for Singapores NG-NBN, was founded in April 2009, but has already achieved great business success and brand equity through NG-NBN, with CEO David Storrie being named one of the hundred most influential people in the global telecom industry in 2010 by Global Telecom Business magazine. At the Singapore national broadband summit in 2010, NC became a focus of attention of the roughly 100 operators that attended. RSPs: For RSPs, national broadband provides a fair, accessible platform, so their market share is no longer determined by their fiber and CO resources, but by their content and package appeal. Free of the burden of building, operating, and maintaining their own network infrastructure, RSPs need only rent bandwidth when end users apply for their services, effectively reducing CAPEX/OPEX. This
open platform also provides RSPs with services from high to medium to low priority levels that can meet their business demands. This allows them to recover their investment more quickly, with a higher return and a capital flow that is better managed. Equipment providers: As NBN involves networkwide E2E products and services that involve the passive, active, MAN, OTN, IP backbone network, core network, OSS, BSS, and IPTV infrastructure, NBN equipment providers need a wide variety of E2E capabilities and experiences. They must consider the business model and funding factors during the initial stage, and consider the open access mode design, network planning, integration, and delivery later. A good equipment provider can greatly accelerate NBN construction, making one an invaluable commodity. End users: With an open broadband network, users are no longer confined to one operators services. They can now enjoy IPTV from one operator and voice services from another, without even having to change their home terminals. This not only changes how users enjoy their home media, it also helps to power new industries such as e-commerce, e-medicine, and e-education.
Everybody wins
With open access, a monopoly is broken, sharing is achieved, and competition & innovation are promoted a situation where everybody wins. National broadband networks, with FTTx technologies, provide a unified network architecture that allows users to flexibly and easily switch from one RSP to another. Optimized OSS/BSS for the open mode even allows users to switch services directly via online channels or by making calls, instead of going through an in-house installation process, making for a great deal of consumer freedom. This also reduces investment risks for RSPs and promotes competition by shortening the investment return cycle. Traditionally, it takes eight to ten years to recoup an investment in FTTH and the risks are high. With an open model, this cycle is shortened to one or two years, making for a much lower investment threshold and risk level for competing RSPs. Freed from network burdens, RSPs can now focus more on services and content. This level playing field will greatly facilitate RSP innovation in the industry at large. Editor: Pearl Zhu zhuwenli@huawei.com
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Network integration makes for smooth NBN deployment
Network integration
Huawei provides an E2E network integration service that fully addresses operators needs during the national broadband network (NBN) deployment process, including network assessment, network design, network deployment, service migration, and post-handover services, making for a true end-toend solution that improves GDP for the nation in question while bettering ROI for the operator.
By Gu Lina
Broadband is now accepted as an impetus for economic growth, and is or soon will be a matter of policy in many countries. And while governments, as decision makers and policy makers, finance and monitor these efforts, including their impact on economic and social welfare, operators are often called upon to join the bidding, draft the plans, plan & deploy network/services, and operate & maintain the network itself, leading to numerous challenges for the latter. The foremost challenge is deployment complexity. The need for NBNs to carry multiple services makes for higher requirements in terms of reliability, usability, and security. With daunting tasks ahead that involve multi-layer networking and multi-solution/product/
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vendor integration, operators capabilities are tested across the board on the site, engineering, and management fronts. A lengthy constr uction cycle is another hindrance. Given the massive scales involved in most cases, completion usually takes quite a few years, and operators need to design their networks very carefully, or vast network resources go to waste. Whats worse, any infrastructure project with a national in the name typically has a long time to ROI, which can be hard to accept, given the current economic malaise. Fault location for a nationwide network is no easy task either, especially one where multiple vendors are used (and indeed operators may be under mandate to do so); demarcation between them can be a real headache, and the in-house experience may be lacking to proactively manage network performance and service quality.
To verify the feasibility of the design in question, Huawei carries out comprehensive testing across all products and vendors using dedicated test tools, encompassing specification compliance; network access; service performance; node-level and link-level reliability; adaptability to simulated bottlenecks, signaling storms, and overloads; overall stability; remote O&M; and simulation of abnormal user actions. Testing deliverables include testing schemes, case studies, and reports. Huawei also offers a customized design service for single-layer networks such as FTTx/ODN, IP core, metro, and WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) that encompasses architecture, protocols, services, capacities, resources, ODN lines, and fiber routes, tailored to customer demands and business needs. Whats more, Huawei offers customized probes with indicators and thresholds most suited to the network or service in question; the reporting format can also be tailored.
Network assessment
Huaweis network assessment service evaluates current network capabilities (high-speed Internet, VoIP, IPTV, wholesale) to identify the gaps that the NBN should fill, making for a solid design foundation. Specifically, this involves equipment capability assessment, network capacity assessment, and service simulation. The former involves assessment o f E 2 E n e t w o rk e q u i p m e n t f u n c t i o n a l i t y, performance, and configuration, while network capacity assessment models network traffic and examines available bandwidth so that service deployment is optimal. Service simulation involves assessment of service quality and network quality, as well as evaluation of the simulator itself.
Network design
Products and services that span the backbone, metro, access, and home networks are very diverse, and NBN design must seamlessly integrate them; Huaweis E2E integration design service can do just that.
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Network integration makes for smooth NBN deployment
Day2 Care
Huaweis Day2 Care service commences on the second day after handover begins and ends with receipt of the final acceptance certificate (FAC). This process usually lasts three to six months, and encompasses fault location assistance, solution changing & testing, service provisioning assistance, and skill transfer, enabling a smooth deployment process and rapid service commercialization. Fault location assistance is fairly straightforward and effectively tackles the efficiency issues involved in locating faults across an E2E network that integrates multiple products/vendors, as it is usually beyond the capabilities of operators O&M personnel. Optimization suggestions are also provided, based on customer complaint analysis. Solution change and test services analyze user complaints, trace back day-1 handover actions, review the design solution, provide design changes and testing as needed, and implement design change assurance. Service provisioning assistance involves analysis of the relevant procedures & periodic faults, and formulation of standard service provisioning procedures, while skill transfer refers to transfer of fault location skills, process documents, and E2E service provisioning 49
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Huawei advantages
Huaweis E2E delivery capability integrates multiple products, services, vendors, SPs, and domains, helping to remove barriers for operators and making NBN implementation that much easier. Huawei has worked with Singapore Nucleus Connect on the ver y first NBN with open access, and with Telekom Malaysia on the most sophisticated multi-vendor NBN in existence thus far, as well as with BT, Brunei Telecom, and Qtel (entire TK project) on their own NBNs. With Huaweis professional tools, each and every stage of national broadband delivery, including network assessment, design, migration, and monitoring, can be done up to 35% more efficiently, while Huaweis NBN project management and process control teams ensure each of these stages throughout the relevant duration. With over 1000 subcontractors around the world and a complete training program, Huawei can build a professional team on your end very quickly, making for an NBN that is both handled and leveraged effectively. Editor: Pearl Zhu zhuwenli@huawei.com
Huawei Communicate
HD will succeed
andwidth itself is a prosaic concept, and often proves an inadequate differentiator for subscribers, who want the entire network experience to be faster (a user can have a high-speed connection but a pedestrian experience thanks to a variety of factors), with diversified services to boot. At present, outside of high-definition IPTV, there are few appealing, bandwidth-intensive services available in China, so local subscribers feel no pressing need to upgrade their broadband into the double digits. HDTVs and next-gen all-in-one PCs (equipped with 22inch screens) are becoming popular, but HD and/ or 3D content is limited and often substandard in terms of video quality. However, OTT players should not be envied. Although the market for over-the-top video doubles in China every year, no content provider (CP) or service provider (SP) has made a profit anytime recently, including Youku Tudou (Chinas answer to YouTube). OTT video providers want to provide HD content to attract more users, thus boosting revenue from ads and paid content, but the bandwidth needed to carry it is expensive to these providers, who spend over 35% of their total costs on it. Chinese operators currently employ a flat broadband pricing model tiered by uplink/downlink rates, but without differentiated service offerings and a smoother user experience (local connections are
known to punch below their weight), the situation will eventually degenerate into a price war. Because of weak market demand, operators choose to discount or even give away free bandwidth upgrades to subscribers, but broadband traffic consumption per user in China is increasing 30 to 50% per year, so these low prices and free offers are not sustainable; something has to be done. Partnership between operators and CPs/SPs is a way out, but what would this look like in practice?
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HD will succeed where bit rates have failed 4Mbps package can handle 720p video at 2.0 to 3.6Kbps; full HD can be delivered at 8Mbps (4.1 to 6.1Mbps), while 16Mbps can deliver one 3D or two concurrent 1080p channels. If every broadband subscriber in China upgrades his bandwidth, leading to an extra 30 cents (USD) spent per month, operators would see USD540 million more in revenue annually. This is far more than what all domestic OTT video providers combined spent on their bandwidth and content delivery networks (CDNs) in 2011, and over half of their total annual revenue. Charging CPs/SPs a little less and charging users a little more for the bandwidth used makes a lot more sense in the overall scheme of things. When 4Mbps becomes the standard, operators can cooperate with CPs/SPs to introduce 1080p video by promoting 8Mpbs packages. Lastly, to enhance the user experience, operators can proactively introduce OTT set-top boxes (STBs), enabling convenient OTT viewing on TV sets as opposed to computers or mobile screens, stimulating even more desire for upper-tier bandwidth.
Huawei Communicate
urrently, broadband access over 3G cellular networks is rather limited thanks to spectrum scarcities and high network rollout and expansion costs. According to the UMTS Forum, mobile traffic will exceed 2011 levels by 32 fold in 2020, totaling over 127 exabytes. This level will overwhelm 3G networks as they are now, even with the help of a more mature LTE ecosystem. WLAN can provide high-speed data services at minimal cost, as its estimated construction costs per gigabit are one-
fortieth to one-sixtieth of those for 3G. With the widespread application of Wi-Fi, mobile operators can employ WLAN as an economical supplement for 3G networks. China Telecom put forward a strategy of developing CDMA in concert with WLAN in May 2011. In 2012, the operator earmarked about RMB1.67 billion (USD270 million) for WLAN, deploying 400,000 access points (APs). China Mobile has also prioritized WLAN as it looks to synergize its GSM/TDSCDMA/LTE TDD technologies. For 2012, it has planned to deploy more than two million APs nationwide and replace wired access with WLAN in certain pilot areas, including eastern Chinas Shandong Province.
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Making WLAN work
Hindrances to WLAN
Construction of carrier-class WLAN requires the overcoming of a raft of challenges. One is ease of use, as users need to be aware of WLAN coverage and availability. Operators are expected to record WLAN service coverage data in their OSS during WLAN deployment, and to disclose the relevant information online. A simple authentication process is also needed, as smooth coordination between WLAN and the macro network will not happen without it, nor will seamless roaming (another major issue here). WLAN configuration should support various device access methods and authentication modes, such as Portal, MAC address binding, EAP-PEAK, and EAP-SIM. Charging is also a major concern. Operators must provide uniform service packaging with precise charging mechanisms for WLAN users, irrespective of terminal brand or category. Flexible charging modes will vary by duration, interval (unlimited duration but limited volume), or volume, while monthly packages can be bundled with other value-added service offerings. However, WLAN users need to be crystal-clear about their traffic volume usage; SMS reminders can come in handy here. Sophisticated carrier-class networks entail meticulous planning, design, and maintenance, as WLAN coverage typically has a limited range, requiring a rather large number of APs, all of which must be managed, powered, monitored, and maintained.
WLAN in Shandong
China Mobile Shandong (Shandong Mobile) is a pioneer in WLAN substitution. From 2002 to August 2010, the operator deployed roughly 60 thousand APs around Shangdong province, serving a very large number of data card users and heralding the era of commercial WLAN in China. As of mid-2011, Shandong Mobile had deployed up to 14 thousand hotspots for areas such as colleges, traffic hubs, hotels, resorts, commercial buildings, and residential complexes, for which the operator releases information regularly regarding coverage and provides flexible web-based customer services. Shandong Mobile employs Huaweis SIM-based authentication solution, which enables integration 53
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of its 3G network with WLAN, streamlining the handset authentication process, from the terminal to the WLAN, GPON, BRAS, and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) protocols. Account names and passwords are required for first-time users only. Thanks to MAC address binding, Shandong Mobile subscribers enjoy simplified authentication courtesy of BRAS redevelopment and Portal/AAA programming, the latter of which enables users to roam via WLAN in other provinces seamlessly. For visitors to Shandong, access controllers (ACs) for ward authentication requests to Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) servers, and the subsequent web authentication process is followed in the same manner. Shandong Mobile also provides assorted tariff packages. If users choose duration-based charging, users are charged according to total service time, regardless of the terminal, by registering their mobile phone number. Users can also subscribe to separate WLAN services or packages with a free capped WLAN duration. This had led to a boom in Shandong Mobiles data services, as well as synergy between the operators GSM/TD-SCDMA/WLAN/LTE TDD technologies, which have combined to keep its profits healthy. Pr e v i o u s l y, t h e W L A N b e a r e r n e t w o r k had consisted of switches from multiple vendors, meaning high OPEX and a protracted troubleshooting process that drew customer ire. This motivated the operator to use GPONs for WLAN traffic. Through its utilization of ONUs with Power over Ethernet (POE) for APs, GPON supports Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) simulation, automatic fault diagnostics, and precise location, leading to construction cost reductions of 30 to 40% when compared to switches. Shandong Mobile has successfully converged WLAN with its legacy network technology, reducing construction costs per gigabit and relieving the burden on the macro network, while making expansion easier to achieve. The operator currently boasts five million WLAN users, while its commercial applications enjoy wide coverage, simple authentication, user experience excellence, service package flexibility, and easy maintenance, making the operator a model for others to follow into the realm of commercial WLAN. Editor: Xu Shenglan xushenglan@huawei.com
Huawei Communicate
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Strategic Operations
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