Broadband Access Technologies TY2701

Course Overview

Broadband access is now a key service offering for fixed and mobilenetwork operators alike. It is therefore important for those involved with this technology to appreciate what broadband technologies are available, and to understand their benefits and the fundamentals of their operation.

The Broadband Access Technologies course introduces students to the broadband technologies and access methods that are available to fixed and mobile-network operators. The course opens with a look at the broadband market and the role of ISPs in supplying broadband services.

The second section looks in greater depth at wireline broadband and the technologies it comprises, including Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL), ADSL2, Very-high-speed DSL (VDSL), fibre optic systems and Powerline Broadband. The third and final section investigates the options for mobile broadband, including WiMAX, WiFi and UMTS, as well as emerging technologies such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB).

Audience

This course is suitable for semi-technical and technical management staff who require a basic overview of the technologies and techniques employed by a range of wired and wireless broadband access systems.

This course is also very useful for engineers and scientists working in areas related to broadband network operation. This includes equipment commissioning, equipment design, Government security or forensic work, service developers, various support staff and those in technical management roles.

Skills Gained

On completion of this course the student will be able to:

• list the main methods employed to deliver broadband services and explain what is meant by 'convergence'
• explain the role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in delivering broadband services, list services historically offered by ISPs and services that are likely to be offered in the future
• explain the meaning of the term 'Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)' and list and describe key technologies used by DSL systems
• outline the basic DSL architectural elements and discuss factors that effect DSL service, and describe the functions of ADSL
• outline xDSL variants such as ADSL2 and VDSL, and their role in enabling 21st Century, Next-Generation Networks (NGNs)
• describe the characteristics of cable modems and their contribution to cable Internet access systems
• outline the concepts and characteristics of fibre optic transmission and powerline broadband
• discuss the characteristics of 'hotspot', 'wide area' and 'municipal' Wi-Fi deployments
• outline the characteristics of UMTS TDD-based fixed wireless broadband and discuss the capabilities of such systems to provide converged, ubiquitous wireless broadband
• describe WiMAX service concepts and outline the characteristics of fixed WiMAX (802.16d) and mobile WiMAX (802.16e)
• describe the characteristics of LTE and UMB

Prerequisites

A basic understanding of digital communications techniques would be an advantage but is not absolutely necessary.

Course Outline

The Broadband Market

• What is 'broadband'?
• Dial-up services
• Dial-up modems
• The fastest dial-up connections
• Achieving broadband access rates
• Broadband access technologies
• Global broadband market statistics
• Total broadband revenues
• Broadband ARPU
• UK broadband statistics
• ISP business development
• Penetration
• Access technology
• Business model
• Historical ISP services
• Convergence and bundling of services
• Future broadband

Wireline Broadband

• Digital subscriber lines
• Characteristics of the local loop
• Copper access networks
• Legacy DSL types
• Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
• The ADSL concept
• Why is ADSL asymmetric?
• Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) line code - QAM and multiple carriers
• DMT for ADSL
• ATM and Ethernet in ADSL
• DSL architecture
• Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
• DSL access network
• DSL backhaul
• Factors affecting DSL service
• Factors affecting range and capacity
• Contention ratios
• DSL development
• ADSL2 and ADSL2+
• VDSL and VDSL2
• DSL deployment strategies
• Local Loop Unbundling (LLU)
• xDSL in a multiservice 21st Century Network
• Cable distribution
• Cable modems
• Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS)
• Powerline broadband
• Fibre optic systems
• Fibre concepts
• Fibre To The Home (FTTH)

Wireless Broadband

• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
• FWA concept
• Fixed wireless access systems
• Satellite broadband access
• HAPS, airships and aircraft
• WiFi
• Wireless LANs (WLANs) and WiFi
• WiFi hotspot networks
• Wide area WiFi
• Municipal WiFi
• UMTS-based fixed wireless
• WiMAX
• WiMAX development
• Fixed WiMAX (802.16d)
• WiMAX deployment, coverage and data rates
• 3G-based mobile broadband
• Current 3G capability
• LTE and UMB
• Mobile WiMAX
• Mobile WiMAX data rate

Follow On Courses

• Students wishing to increase their knowledge further will benefit from attendance on our UMTS System Overview, IP Engineering Overview and Introduction to Telecoms courses.
• Students wishing to know more about the telecoms market should consider attending our Wireless Industry Overview course.