MiniMSAN EMX-A44 Remotely Powered Mini Multi Service Access Node

Characteristics of the Broadband Market

Everything changes, but Telecom Broadband Market is changing faster. There is so much fuss about Internet speeds arround. For telecommunications carriers plain old internet access and phone calls (POTS) are no longer enough - to increase revenue they must add value for their subscribers to keep their loyalty. In order to avoid churn, gain market share and increase ARPU they have to add IPTV to their offers to create a Triple-Play bundle (data transfer + VoIP + multichannel IPTV). Existing access networks are however not able to transport necessary dataspeeds for such services to most of the households. As ADSL and VDSL technologies can provide sufficient bandwidth only on very short loops and as the long payback period for FTTH scenario is not acceptable for Telcos, there is only one solution left: Shortening of the local loop. In "do nothing" scenario cable operators will take over majority of customers.

Shortening of the Local Loop

In this scenario the MSAN/DSLAM equipment is brought closer to subscribers in order to make the twisted copper pair loop between DSLAM/MSAN and customer's CPE (modem) short. Short loop will enable ADSL2+ technology to work at full speed i.e. 24 Mbps - sufficient for Triple-Play services. In classical shortening of the local loop scenario DSLAM/MSAN would be moved from Central Office and installed in street cabinet. Fibre optical cable is deployed to provide high speed uplink to Central Office where aggregation equipment still resides. The main problems of this scenario are:

• Building up street cabinet usually involves complicated legal procedures to get all permissions from local authorities and involves extensive civil works
• Active equipment in street cabinets needs local powering with UPS which in turn means additional legal procedures, Electricity Company services, more equipment (AC/DC, UPS, batteries) and more civil works.
• Active air-conditioning of street cabinet is needed
• A street cabinet with air-conditioning and UPS needs regular maintenance (OPEX!)
• Essential initial fixed investment is required (CAPEX!)

MiniMSAN does away with all above mentioned problems and enable Telco to shorten the local loop in an easy and economical way without building up street cabinets. With MiniMSAN Telco gets a solution to provide Triple-Play in "Pay As You Grow" way even for customers located far from Central Office by using combined fibre optics/twisted copper pair (i.e. FTTN/ADSL2+) concept.

What is MiniMSAN

MiniMSAN is a very compact, remotely powered Multi Service Access Node (MSAN) with full IP-DSLAM functionality and optical uplink. Due to extremely small dimensions and power autonomy it may be installed in existing distribution cabinets or even on poles or walls. It provides 4 ADSL2+ ports together with 4 POTS TDM ports, 1 SHDSL uplink port and one FE/GE optical uplink port. SHDSL line (one line supporting 4 subscribers) is used for providing POTS TDM connections, remote power feeding and it may also be used as uplink (2Mbps) until the time that fibre optic cable is deployed to the unit. When FE/GE optical link is connected all customers enjoy full Triple-Plays services (24 Mbps per subscriber). SHDSL may be still used for TDM POTS and for IP backup. With this functionality MiniMSAN is the ideal solution for a smooth transition from TDM to NGN technology. It allows gradual deployment of FTTN concept and provides an easy step towards Fiber To The Home (FTTH) final solution.

MiniMSAN RT unit provides full IP-DSLAM functionality enabling up to four ADSL2+ connections (including POTS TDM). RT connects to COT card via SHDSL over 1 copper pair which provides POTS TDM channels and remote powering. It aggregates IP traffic from 4 ADSL2+ modems and terminates ATM protocol. ADSL splitters are integrated. In "Broadband mode" IP traffic is transported via SHDSL interface towards COT cards. Broadband Internet (max. 2 Mbps) and VoIP are supported in this mode. In "Triple-Play mode" the aggregated IP traffic is transported via FE/GE optical interface (max 1,25 Gbps) towards OLT unit at CO side. Full Triple-Play is supported (24 Mbps per subscriber).

Equipment at customer premises (CPE equipment)

Equipment is installed at customer's residence within a 5 km radius from MiniMSAN. Any standard ADSL modem may be used (ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+). ADSL modems connect to RT via twisted copper pairs. Full Triple-Play (24 Mbps) is supported for distances about 1 Km from MiniMSAN RT unit.

Telemanagement System

NKS-03 system consists of peripheral device PNS-03 (CTL-003) installed at each central office location and Graphical User Interface SWN-03 which runs in telemanagement centre on PC computer in Windows environment. NKS-03 system is comprehensive tool for setting-up, maintenance and supervision of MiniMSAN and all EMX equipment. SNMP protocol enables integration in other management platforms.

MiniMSAN Equipment

MiniMSAN may work in "Broadband mode" or "Triple-Play mode". In "Broadband mode" only SHDSL line is used for IP uplink which is sufficient for Broadband Internet access (2 Mbps) and VOIP services. In "Triple-Play mode" MiniMSAN uses optical FE/GE IP uplink which is sufficient for full Triple-Play services (24 Mbps) for all connected ADSL2+ subscribers. SDHSL line may be used as backup uplink.

Equipment at CO side (COT equipment)

The equipment at CO side consists of:

• Several COT SHDSL cards (up to 13 in one shelf): ...........................EMX-E04-E
• Aggregation switch (1 in each shelf): ............................................... EES-G16 (obligatory in Broadband mode only)
• Telemanagement card (1 for 64 shelves on one location): ................ PNS-03 (CTL-003)
• 19 " shelf with 14 slots: ...................................................................UAR-014
• Managable cooling system for one shelf: .......................................... EHS-004

EMX-E04-E COT card provides 16 analogue telephone line interfaces (Z interface) towards Central Office PSTN switch and 4 SHDSL interfaces towards RT units. In "Broadband mode" the unit aggregates IP traffic from 4 RT units via SHDSL interfaces. Card is powered from Central Office battery (48 VDC) and provides remote power feeding voltage for MiniMSAN RT units. In "Triple-Play mode" the aggregation of IP traffic is optional for uplink backup. EES-G16 card aggregates IP traffic from all COT cards in one UAR-014 shelf (up to 208 subscribers !). Used only in "Broadband mode" or optionally in "Triple-Play mode" for back-up. EES-G16 allows daisy chaining of multiple shelves. CTL-003 is peripheral device of telemanagement system. It communicates with all cards in the shelf via RS-485 interface and with remote telemanagement centre SWN-03 via IP network.

Equipment at remote side (RT equipment)

Equipment is installed outdoor in existing street cabinets or on poles and walls.

• MiniMSAN RT unit: ............................................................................EMX-A44-S