Next-generation access

Next-generation access (NGA) is term used by British Telecommunications (BT) describing a significant upgrade to the telecommunication access network replacing some or all of the copper cable with optical fibre. Since fibre is capable of sustaining higher data transmission rates over longer distances than twisted-pair or coaxial cable, these Internet access networks are marketed using the term "broadband". The physical fibre optic cables and equipment to deliver the service is an access network.^[1]

Definition

The European Commission said: "Next generation access (NGA) networks" means wired access networks which consist wholly or in part of optical elements and which are capable of delivering broadband access services with enhanced characteristics (such as higher throughput) as compared to those provided over already existing copper networks. In most cases NGAs are the result of an upgrade of an already existing copper or co-axial access network."^[2]

UK operator BT offers a similar description: "Broadly speaking, it means internet that uses next-generation optic fibres, rather than the copper wires which most broadband users in the UK use at the moment." ^[3]

It is generally accepted that NGA includes fibre-rich infrastructure and technologies such as fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC), fibre-to-the-home or premises (FTTH/FTTP) and upgraded cable TV networks.

Network architectures

• HFC – Hybrid fibre-Coaxial: any configuration that includes both fibre and coaxial cable to deliver content from an operator’s central office to a subscriber’s home.
• PON – Passive Optical Network: A passive optical network is a point-to-multipoint, fibre to the premises network architecture in which unpowered optical splitters are used to enable a single optical fibre to serve multiple premises, typically 16-128.
• FTTX including FTTH, FTTC, FTTB, FTTP, FTTN and FTTC: fibre to the Home, Business, Premise, Node or Cabinet: Where fibre is used to deliver content from an operator’s central office to a variety of termination points – the subscriber’s home; a telecommunication’s street cabinet; a local node or a multi-dwelling unit – an apartment or condominium block, for example.
• FMC – Fixed Mobile Convergence: where hand-off between fixed and mobile networks is seamless, providing ubiquitous connectivity.
• AON – Active Optical Network: a fibre optic network that uses electrically powered equipment, such as switch or router, to distribute a signal. This provides Pay TV operators and telecommunications service providers with complete control of their infrastructure, enabling them to guarantee a quality of service (QOS) to subscribers.

Milestones

Operators around the world have been rolling out high-speed Internet access networks since the mid 2000s. Some used a network topology known as Active Ethernet Point-to-Point to deliver services from its central office direct into subscribers’ homes. fibre termination was handled by a residential gateway provided by Advanced Digital Broadcast inside a subscriber's home to be shared with other consumer electronics (CE) devices.

Since 2007, Italian access providers Fastweb,^[4] Telecom Italia, Vodafone, and Wind participated in an initiative called fibre for Italy, aim of creating a countrywide FTTH network in Italy. The pilot taking place in the Italian capital, Rome, has seen symmetrical bandwidth of 100 Mbit/s.^[5] Telecom Italia, which refused to take part in the fibre for Italy initiative, has an even more ambitious plan to bring FTTH/B to 138 cities by 2018.^[6] By the end of December 2010, the total number of FTTH-enabled homes had passed 2.5 million, with more than 348,000 subscribers.^[6]

Fixed wireless and mobile wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) are an alternative for providing Internet access.

Regulation

In September 2010 the European Commission published a new Recommendation for Regulated Access to NGA Networks along with a list of measures to promote deployment of fast broadband and NGA networks ^[7].

See also

• Broadband Internet access
• fibre to the x
• Hybrid fibre-coaxial
• National broadband plans from around the world
• Infinite Bandwidth Zero Latency

References

1. ^ "The Definition of UK Superfast Next Generation Broadband". ISP Review. October 25, 2010. http://www.ispreview.co.uk/articles/10_Definition_of_UK_Superfast_NGA_Broadband/index.php. Retrieved August 23, 2011. 
2. ^ 2010/572/EU: Commission Recommendation of 20 September 2010 on regulated access to Next Generation Access Networks (NGA) Retrieved 30/10/2010.
3. ^ NGA explained Retrieved 30 October 2010
4. ^ Enrico Pietralunga (March 23, 2009). "Fastweb FTTH: A 10-years success story". Konferenzbeitraege Berlin presentation. Fastweb. http://www.wik.org/fileadmin/Konferenzbeitraege/2009/Challenges_for_FTTB_H_in_Europe/S2_3_Pietralunga_Fastweb_WIK_FTTH_Conference2009.pdf. Retrieved AUgust 23, 2011. 
5. ^ http://www.connections.rdm.com/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-2001/3439_read-3159/
6. ^ ^{a b} "Italy: FTTH reaches 348,000 subscriber mark". fibre to the Whatever blog. January 17, 2011. http://fibretothewhatever.com/wp/news/italy-ftth-reaches-348000-subscriber-mark. Retrieved August 24, 2011. 
7. ^ Digital Agenda: Commission outlines measures to deliver fast and ultra-fast broadband in Europe Brussels, 20 September 2010

External links

• http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/products/nga/nga_hp.do
• http://www.bt.com/nga