Broadband access network technologies and strategies

Providing access to the ´information superhighway´ for residential customers requires new technologies capable of improving the performance and capacity of existing access networks. Taking into account the broad range of network and service requirements, the broadband access network will develop via alternative paths during the following years. No single access network solution will fulfil the requirements from the various operators and a large portfolio of access network alternatives will be needed: optical systems (FTTC, F7TB, FTTH), twisted pair systems (ADSL, VDSL), hybrid fiber coax systems and radio systems (e.g. LMDS, hybrid fiber radio). Since the requirements for the upgrading of the access network are different for the various types of operators, alternative evolution scenarios can be outlined along three main paths.