The paper presents the main results obtained within the Research in Advanced Communications in Europe (RACE) project: 2087 TITAN regarding minimum-risk introductory routes for new narrowband and broadband services in the residential and small business market. The project developed a methodology and a tool for techno-economic evaluation of advanced narrowband and broadband telecommunications networks and services. Results from four extensive access network studies are presented. For the narrowband services, optical access and radio in the local loop have been assessed and compared to conventional copper layout in a greenfield environment. Access network upgrade strategies for emerging new broadband services have been evaluated in three studies, with technological options ranging from enhanced copper to hybrid-fiber-coax (HFC) and broadband passive optical networks. An extensive study on different broadband access network upgrade alternatives for public network operators (PNOs) were carried out, taking into account the diversity of conditions met today by European countries. In another study, the effect of competition In the access network was modeled assuming two main operators sharing the market. Broadband upgrade alternatives were evaluated for a new cable operator, competing with the dominant public network operator. In addition, video-on-demand (VoD) and Internet access upgrades have been analyzed. The paper demonstrates the viability of techno-economic studies for the access network, including in-depth analysis of the time-dependence of component cost, tariffs, service penetrations and market shares.

Techno-economic evaluation of narrowband and broadband access network alternatives and evolution scenario assessment

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Implementação da Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) numa Empresa de Produção

Deriving suitable access network upgrade strategies requires strategic analyses and techno-economic evaluations of network projects. A sufficient access network strategic analysis to some extent relies on the combination of high level parameters and low level parameters of significant strategic relevance, dependant on the access network itself. The former typically are parameters such as density of subscribers, tariff elasticity and broadband take rate, whilst the latter may include network termination cards and splitting ratio of passive optical networks etc.

Modelling in TITAN

A software package is described that was developed to assist in the processes of design and planning associated with the deployment of optical fiber in the subscriber loop (or access network) The software implementation provides a novel solution for deriving spectral forward and return losses from a diversity of routes in an optical network through the application of object-oriented technology This technique represents a comprehensive treatment that is not based on a single-path, which enables a wide range of optical network designs to be rapidly created and subsequently characterized directly on actual geographical sites

Software package for designing/planning fiber networks in the subscriber loop

Following the mainstream applied economic literature on the production structure of the telecommunications (TLC) carriers, the paper provides an econometric estimation of the overall effects of the adoption of optical systems in junction and trunk network on the aggregate long-run costs of the existing TLC European carriers. The analysis uses data from 16 European carriers over the 1980-'92 period. The optical systems are shown to have significantly reduced the costs of the European carriers. Firms operating non-rural and high density areas have benefited especially from the adoption of optical systems. In addition, the efficiency gain related to fibre optic lines turns out to be cumulative.

The adoption of optical systems: An econometric cost model of the european telecommunications carriers

An engineering framework for estimating the investment cost of two implementation strategies intended to provide broadband (video services) access to residential customers in new construction areas is described. One strategy is the deployment of a single (digital and fiber) integrated network, and the other is the codeployment of dual, separate networks (one for narrowband and the others for TV distribution). The methodology derives the investment per subscriber as a function of network element's costs and demographical, topological, and service penetration parameters. The methodology is applied to TELEFONICA's network. The incremental cost of the integrated network (compared with dual networks codeployment) is estimated to be around $700 per customer. The results highlight the importance of broadband services that would not be fully provided by conventional cable TV distribution networks. >

Parametric methodology for analyzing implementation strategies of residential broadband networks: the incremental cost of integrated access

This paper provides a quantitative examination of lifecycle cost versus operating environment for fiber-in-the-loop (FITL) systems. It focuses on reactive maintenance due to service-affecting failures of optoelectronic elements. The scope is limited to passive point-to-multipoint star local networks, engineered to deliver narrowband telecommunication POT's services, with hybrid fiber/copper architectures (i.e., the customer's terminal equipment (TE) is connected with symmetrical copper pairs to the optical network unit or ONU of the FITL system). The influence of service-affecting failure rates, times to repair, and the various temperature environments faced by the optoelectronic equipment is evaluated in terms of: (i) service downtime; and (ii) the number of repair actions and maintenance expenses due to service affecting failures on the optoelectronics-related elements. The author estimates some $60 expenses, per line during a 20 year lifecycle, if the ONU is in a partly controlled temperature environment, and some $170 in an uncontrolled temperature environment. A downtime, per line per year, lower that 60 minutes can be achieved in both types of environment. Placing the ONU in a partly controlled environment, however, enables a 100% increase in the times to repair or, alternatively, some 90% decrease in the downtime. >

Service-affecting optoelectronic failures in FITL systems: downtime, repair actions, and maintenance expenses

This paper covers: (1) the field trials, with fibre in the local network systems, being conducted in Spain and intended for delivery telephone-based services to residential customers; (2) the technical and functional requirements of these types of system intended for commercial (regular) deployment to be started around late 1993/early 1994, and (3) the most relevant initial deployment scenarios and persubscriber investment aspects.



The field trials are located in Madrid and in Barcelona: their rationale, technical characteristics and the lessons learned so far are described.



Such trials are providing insight into what requirements and objectives are anticipated to be needed should such new technology be an actual alternative to copper-based subscriber loops. The requirement for such fibre in the local network systems intended for regular deployment in the near term are indicated, including technical and functional requirements of the optical line terminals (OLTs) (at local exchanges) and optical network units (ONUs) (located near customer premises); transmission requirements and optical distribution network (ODN) requirements and design aspects. For starting regular deployment, three preferred scenarios are identified. The chief parameters affecting persubscriber investments are illustrated including the number of fibres per ONU, and the number of users being served from each ONU. It is shown that in order to achieve cost parity with copper loop (which requires an initial investment of between $600 and $800) a capacity of some 60 narrowband (64 kb/s) channels per ONU should be required.

R. Diaz de la Iglesia

Papers

Parametric methodology for analyzing implementation strategies of residential broadband networks: the incremental cost of integrated access

Service-affecting optoelectronic failures in FITL systems: downtime, repair actions, and maintenance expenses

Initial deployment of fibre in the local network for narrowband use in Spain: Technology, engineering and cost