16 Rev2b NGA Opinion Supplementary doc - IRG

ERG (07) 16rev2b NGA Opinion Supplementary Doc 41 / 69
• Several units for specialized services (MUX for voice PSTN and for TDM data,
DSLAM, VoIP and VoInternet, IP Data);
• ATM aggregation.
According to PTC, its access network will evolve to be "future proof", with strong optical-fibre
dissemination, foreseeing that in the medium-long period will be constituted by 50% fibre and
50% copper.
The drivers for the development of its access network are basically the innovations at the
services’ level (as much for residential customers as for enterprise), as to the level of mobility.
It is foreseen, in this development of the access network: (i) Introduction of IP technology;
(ii) Increase of the level of QoS, modern O&M systems and evolved management/provisioning
systems; (iii) Control of the Spectrum Management in the copper cables;
(iv) Increase of the capacity in the access; (v) Solutions for path protection (fibre) and radio
solutions; (vi) New solutions of aggregation: ATM → ATM + Ethernet → Ethernet; (vii) Introduction
of FTTB solutions for operators and non-residential customers; (viii) Reinforcement
of the primary distribution in optic fibre; (ix) Remotisation of equipment (micro-coverage); (x)
Introduction of multi-service units (MSAN).
Thus, according to PTC, a restructuring of the architecture of the access networks will occur
– the gradual disappearance of the TDM and access SDH and the growth of the FTTx solutions
-, with the adoption of new multi-service units (new generation DSLAM and/or MSAN)
and the introduction of new xDSL, FTTx and GPON technologies, with a predominance of
Ethernet and IP/MPLS technologies and with a centralized control:
Time
Figure 2.8-1: Evolution of access network in the medium-long term (source: PT Comunicações, 2006)
PTC also mentioned that the average traffic for customer has increased, derived from the
increased number and requirements of applications and services used by the consumers and
that there is also a bigger pressure on the upstream traffic (for P2P, backup, etc.), foreseeing
in the future a more symmetrical use of the networks and with multiple applications and users
in simultaneous in each site/home.
Hence, the gradual use of fibre optic in the access will be extended to the house (or building)
of the customers, when, in the future, the requested (symmetrical) bandwidth could not be
satisfied with xDSL.