ITUNet: International trials with users and networks from European testbeds

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 98.0058-3

Key words (English)

Broadband access ; inverse multiplexing; SBC TV; proxy signalling; VDSL; statistical multiplexer; trials

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: AC309

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.2 Communications technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Telenor (N)

Abstract (English)

Main objective of ITUNET project

The main activities of ITUNET project were aimed at carrying out experiments on the provision of a variety of broadband services using various access network technologies such as VDSL and inverse multiplexing. The project addressed service, network and technology aspects. In the network/technology domains, the viability of the xDSL technology to offer the flexibility and bandwidth allocation required of a full service network was investigated. An innovative technique involving inverse multiplexing for ATM over VDSL combined with statistical multiplexing was introduced to ensure the transport of ATM cells over twisted pair access networks, thus demonstrating that existing infrastructures can be upgraded to provide the complete range of broadband and narrowband services to the general public. To ensure that our technical approach for the provision of a full services network was realistic in terms of economy and network ability, in depth studies and evaluations on network establishment costs, network dimensioning and network functionality were carried out.
A number of field trials were planned in order to thoroughly assess service, network and technology aspects related to the adopted delivery platforms.

Swiss contribution
Four organisations (Swisscom, Ascom, Telscom and Martel) of Switzerland participated in the project.
The Swiss contribution was more oriented towards provision of statistical multiplexers based on VDSL access network, Proxy signalling to optimise the access bandwidth requirement, techno-economic analysis for Swiss network scenario and integration and testing of systems towards the full system operational demonstration during Telecom'99 and other planned testbeds.
Telscom was responsible for developing the architecture, specifications of sub-systems, development of line cards for VDSL and statistical multiplexer as well as proxy signalling for SBC TV applications. The sub-systems were developed according to plans and delivered to Ascom team for integrating with their system. Proxy signalling was delivered to Telenor, who were responsible for testing the applications side. Both of our activities were successfully demonstrated during the Tech. Audit during March 2000.
Telscom also contributed significantly to network aspects particularly for transmission system analysis and provision of reliability in the system. The results were contributed to the NI Guideline addressing the access networks.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 98.0058-3