Field trials for fiber access in the EC

The European Economic Community´s (EC) RACE program (Research and Development in Advanced Communications Technologies in Europe) started with a definition phase in 1986. The main effort of the first phase was aimed at customer access connections (CACs) and customer premises networks (CPNs), as well as identification of services that will use these high-speed networks. In the second phase, which began in 1992, RACE projects are focused on managing the high data rates generated by these networks and the need for high-capacity transport networks. The greater functionality required and the large number of multiuser applications operating simultaneously within and between organizations generates data rates, both intra- and intersite, on the order of tens of Gb/s. Such high data rates will spur the market for gigabit networks. At the start of the RACE program, some projects were devoted to integrating interactive and distributive services into one ATM-based electrical user network interface. The main motivation was the use of the same fiber for different services to the subscriber. The RACE projects demonstrate fiber-based broadband infrastructures for local access.<>