7.1 Introduction

The start of the new millennium coincides with increasing global deployment of broadband access technologies, many of which are being used to deliver IP-based services and applications to customers at increasingly faster speeds.

This chapter provides an overview of how to supply broadband access, i.e. high-speed Internet services, to the population at large. DSL and cable modems are currently being deployed across the globe. LMDS radio licences have been issued in several countries now and satellite technology has transitioned from a focus on the mobile, narrowband, backhaul and rural markets to being looked at as a viable broadband access system. In addition, an increasing amount of optical fibre is being deployed in access networks. Metropolitan fibre rings from a range of different carriers are now being constructed in many of the developed world's largest cities.

For IP, the trend towards broadband access opens up new service opportunities facilitated by the increase in bandwidth. High-quality streaming entertainment video, videoconferencing and interactive gaming are just some of the possibilities where the removal of the access bottle-neck significantly improves the customer's experience of the service. In addition, broadband access facilitates the bundling of multiple services simultaneously through the same access 'pipe'. This opportunity also brings with it new challenges for IP and its supporting network infrastructure and systems. The ability to prioritise certain traffic types over others and incorporate quality-of-service guarantees will be key network differentiators in the new competitive broadband era.