The Access Network - Evolution From Separate Simple Services To A Fully Flexible Environment

The technology which now enables us all to be part of one large global community is impressive. Fibre optic cables cross oceans, networks of satellites link continents and sophisticated management software keeps it all working. Yet all of this would be wasted without the humble access network. The role and the form of the access network are starting to undergo dramatic changes, driven by the expectations of the users and the availability of new technology. The aim of this paper is to look at some of the evolutionary trends in how we access our communication networks and at what is driving those trends. It will not present instant answers to the decisions that users and network and service providers have to make, but will allow those decisions to be made in a more informed way. A major driver for change has been the widespread adoption of PCs in homes and businesses. This, in itself, would not have been sufficient to cause major changes in the use we make of our networks but the symbiotic relationship with the growth of the internet has completely changed the way many of us communicate and do business. The other main driver for change has been the widespread adoption of mobile phones - in some European countries, there are now more mobile phones than there are fixed phone lines. Broadcast networks (TV and radio) are also changing. They have moved from a passive medium to an interactive medium which allows viewers to select "pay-per-view" programmes, choose from a set of camera angles, call up data about a programme or send e-mails.