ABSTRACT

This chapter offers a qualitative approach towards the development of the new generation access network, based on FTTx implementations. After a brief description of the current state of traditional access networks and an estimation of the expected data rate per household in terms of services, the chapter examines all the available Network Technologies (FTTx), Access Technologies (xDSL, Ethernet and PON) for both P2P and P2MP development schemes and their relevant implementations. The prospects of NGA are also strategically examined in view of the complicated multi-player environment, involving Telco (ILEC and CLEC), regulators and pressure interest groups, all striving to serve their individual, often conflicting interests. The chapter concludes with an outline of the different deployment strategies for both ILEC and CLEC Telco.

INTRODUCTION - BACKGROUND

NGA stands for New Generation Access, a new concept associated with the future access network architecture that is capable for providing sufficient bandwidth to all present and forthcoming applications, thus removing the bandwidth barrier from the last mile for the next fifty years. It is closely related with NGN, the New Generation Network platform that will transform the existing, traditional TDM-based multi-network structure into a universal all-IP network.

Nobody denies that the future access network will eventually be an all-fibre network in a "fibre-to-the-home" (FTTH) architecture, even though the offering of POTS (plain old telephony services) services over optical fibre requires a higher cost and imposes the need for local powering for optoelectronic conversion, which is unnecessary...