The Broadband for All Cluster in FP6

Paulo de Sousa

and Martin Potts

European Commission (INFSO), Avenue de Beaulieu 29, Office 6/84,

B-1160 Brussels, Belgium

Martel GmbH, Dorfstrasse 97,

3073 Bern, Switzerland

Abstract. This paper describes the Broadband For All Cluster, which resides

within the IST (Information Society Technologies) Thematic Area of the EU’s

Framework Programme. By explaining the topics being addressed by the

projects in the Cluster, it gives a summary of the current trends in broadband

provision in the access and core networks, from the perspective of the major

industrial and network operations organisations throughout Europe. Since there

will be further Calls for projects in this Strategic Objective, it can be a useful

guide towards assessing where important topics have been overlooked.

1 Introduction

Proposals for IST-oriented projects in the EU’s 6

Framework Programme (2002 -

2006) were invited to address the following so-called “Strategic Objectives”:

- Broadband For All

• To develop the network technologies and architectures allowing a

generalised availability of broadband access to European users, including

those in less developed regions. This is a key enabler to the wider

deployment of the information and knowledge-based society and economy.

- Mobile and Wireless systems beyond 3G

• To realise the vision of "optimally connected anywhere, anytime".

Early preparatory work has characterized Systems Beyond 3G as a

horizontal communication model, where different terrestrial access levels

and technologies are combined to complement each other in an optimum

way for different service requirements and radio environments. They may

include the personal level (personal/body area/ad hoc network) the

local/home level (W-LAN, UWB) the cellular level (GPRS, UMTS) the

wider area level (DxB-T, BWA).

The resulting access landscape is complemented by a satellite overlay

network, providing notably a global multicast layer (eg. S-DMB).

- Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platforms

Potts M. and De Sousa P. (2004).

The Broadband for All Cluster in FP6.

In Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Shaping the Broadband Society, pages 71-81

DOI: 10.5220/0001404100710081

 SciTePress

• To develop end-to-end networked audio-visual systems and applications, and

open trusted and interoperable multimedia user platforms and devices,

notably for broadcasting and in-home platforms with full interactivity

capacity.

Whilst these 3 areas are becoming increasingly closely inter-related, this categori-

sation has led to groups (“Clusters”) of manageable size (approx. 20 projects), in

which dissemination and discussion takes place that is always of common interest for

most of the participants.

This paper focuses on the projects and activities in the Broadband for All Cluster.

2 Technology trends

The Broadband For All Cluster is especially relevant for this workshop in so far as

nowadays there can be no information society without broadband infrastructure. The

demand for broadband is being driven by increasingly sophisticated content and ser-

vices (e-business, e-learning, e-health, gaming, …) running on high-speed LANs

connecting a widening variety of office- and entertainment- terminals.

Capacity is generally available in the core networks of developed countries, since

this is being upgraded cost-effectively in-line with demand, thanks to the foresighted

deployment of fibre and DWDM technologies over the last 10 years. The spotlight for

providing users with broadband is therefore directed more onto the access network,

where DSL, CATV, WLAN hot-spots, BFWA, Powerline and fibre access networks

are competing to bring higher bitrates to the end users. As expected, many of the

projects in the Broadband For All Cluster therefore address the access network.

The complexity of service interoperability has also been recognised as a potential

roadblock to the ubiquitous availability of information to the general public. Whilst

the Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home Platforms Cluster examines the net-

working - and interworking - of domestic equipment with the telecommunications

network, the Broadband For All Cluster includes projects that are working to ensure

that multiple services can be supported independent of the underlying networks.

“Ambient” networks and services are also being defined, whereby - through auto-

mated procedures - the complexity of network operations (and handovers) can be

hidden from the user, thereby enabling the development of attractive and exciting

new value-added services. If successful, this will further drive the demand for band-

width in the access and core networks, and generate new sources of revenue.

An overview of the projects in the Broadband For All Cluster serves to highlight

the trends in access and core network technologies for enabling the delivery of end-

to-end services and applications with appropriate QoS, security, etc., ambient net-

works and services.

Fig. 1 below shows the technologies that are addressed, and also the issues covered

within the Cluster that have to be supported by - or impact upon - the networks, but

which are technology-independent:

Optical Core

Network Technologies

Broadband Access

Technologies

Fibre, GMPLS, optical

control

FTTx, PLC, Copper,

Cable, WLAN, FWA,

HAPs, Satellite

Routers, Switches,

BRAS, Aggregators

OTNs, OADMs

Convergence and Interoperability: NGI Protocols, IP Everywhere (IP transport,

control & routing)

Network- and Service- Management (includes QoS, Security)

Monitoring and Measurement

Economics of the Internet

Optical Core

Network Technologies

Broadband Access

Technologies

Optical Core

Network Technologies

Broadband Access

Technologies

Fibre, GMPLS, optical

control

FTTx, PLC, Copper,

Cable, WLAN, FWA,

HAPs, Satellite

Fibre, GMPLS, optical

control

FTTx, PLC, Copper,

Cable, WLAN, FWA,

HAPs, Satellite

Routers, Switches,

BRAS, Aggregators

OTNs, OADMs

Routers, Switches,

BRAS, Aggregators

OTNs, OADMs

Convergence and Interoperability: NGI Protocols, IP Everywhere (IP transport,

control & routing)

Network- and Service- Management (includes QoS, Security)

Monitoring and Measurement

Economics of the Internet

Convergence and Interoperability: NGI Protocols, IP Everywhere (IP transport,

control & routing)

Network- and Service- Management (includes QoS, Security)

Monitoring and Measurement

Economics of the Internet

Fig. 1. Technologies addressed (vertical), and issues (horizontal) that have to be supported by -

or impact upon - the networks

3 The projects

Table 1. Projects from the 1

Call

that participate in the Broadband For All Cluster

Short Name Type of

Project

Aspects Addressed

ACE NoE Sophisticated antennas are a strategic multi-application technology

for emerging communications, navigation and sensing services for

the Information Society, for aeronautics and space, transport, secu-

rity, tele-medicine, etc. Involving thousand of specialists, European

antenna engineering is currently scattered over 150 entities, with

some €200M of R&D expenditure yearly. ACE will restructure this

fragmented European R&D, reducing duplications and boosting

excellence and competitiveness in key areas. 40 leading institutions

take part in the project.

The 1

Call for Proposals was issued on 17

December 2002. The deadline for submitting

proposals was 24

April 2003. The EC budget was €60M. Most of the projects started on 1

January 2004.

IP = Integrated Project (new instrument in FP6)

NoE = Network of Excellence (new instrument in FP6)

STREP = Specific Targeted Research Project (similar to FP5 RTD projects)

SSA = Specific Support Action (similar to FP5 Accompanying Measures)

CA = Co-ordination Action (replaces the Concerted Actions and Thematic Networks of FP5)

ATHENA STREP ATHENA develops an approach for the digital switchover that

comprises the use of the DVB stream for interconnecting NGN

nodes. The solution uses regenerative configurations to enable the

realisation of a virtual common Ethernet backbone that can be

exploited by 3G/UMTS and Beyond 3G Systems operators and

broadcasters, as well as enabling broadband access for all.

Such a configuration enables multi-service capability, as the

regenerative DVB-T creates a single access network physical

infrastructure, shared by multiple services (ie. TV programmes,

interactive multimedia services, Internet applications, etc.).

Validation will be made through a trial in a medium-sized city,

including the implementation, testing and validation of a spectrum

efficient real time dynamic management of the available bandwidth,

for supporting the variety of heterogeneous bit rate services, and a

traffic policy mechanism, for UMTS users on the move, for the

seamless reception of IP data when transitioning from one UHF

channel (DVB-T stream) to another.

BREAD CA BREAD considers a multi-disciplinary approach regarding the

realisation of the 'broadband for all' concept within Europe.

Societal, economic, regulatory and technological issues will be

addressed, sharing views and knowledge, developing new strategies

and good practices.

The study will include regional "success stories" of actual

deployments and the influence of government stimulus for

accelerating the early rollout of broadband services. The societal

aspects of introducing broadband access and sustainable economic

business models for this will be taken into account.

One “Broadband Summit” conference and exhibition will be

organised per year.

BROADWAN STREP BROADWAN looks at all the (hybrid) solutions for broadband

access networks for fixed and nomadic users within a global

coverage architecture. New adaptive equipment and automatic

network planning and management software is included.

CAPANINA STREP CAPANINA examines the broadband capability that can be

achieved from aerial platforms for the delivery of cost effective,

viable alternatives to cable and satellite, with the potential to reach

rural, urban and travelling users.

Examples of High Altitude Platforms include airships and solar

powered aeroplanes operating at altitudes of around 20km. Data

rates of up to 120Mbps will be delivered to fixed and moving users

within a 60km area.

Free-space optic and mm-wave technologies will be used for

backbone and interplatform links providing seamless integration

with existing infrastructure.

COCOMBINE SSA COCOMBINE focuses on collecting the knowledge and developing

the tools to understand the related markets for long distance transit,

public peering and broadband access. It also focuses on the interplay

between infrastructure and contents, which defines the broadband

diffusion modalities across Europe. Partners will monitor the

evolution of the Internet architecture using data from online transit

markets and from Internet Exchange Points.

DIADEM

FIREWALL

STREP DIADEM FIREWALL develops a novel and comprehensive

security solution for secure broadband services, by combining high-

speed packet processing, algorithms for intrusion detection, and

policy-based techniques for automated configuration and decision-

handling. Elements include:

- provider-controlled edge devices, representing a new generation

of distributed high-speed broadband firewalls with policy-based

control

- enhanced techniques capable of detecting a wide range of

security violations, in particular DDOS

- techniques for responding intelligently to security violations.

DAIDALOS STREP DAIDALOS concerns the creation of a user-centred and

manageable communication infrastructure for the future (with the

focus on an integrated mobile environment). DIADALOS will:

- design, prototype and validate infrastructure and components for

the efficient distribution of services over diverse network

technologies beyond 3G

- integrate complementary network technologies to provide

pervasive and user-centred access to services

- develop an optimized signalling system for communication and

management support

- demonstrate the results of the work through a strong focus on

user-centered and scenario-based development of technology.

E-PHOTON/

One

NoE This Network of Excellence will integrate and focus the know-how

available in Europe on optical communications.

The main technical focus of the project is to show which are the

potential advantages of optical technologies in telecommunication

networks with respect to electronic technologies.

EUQOS IP EUQOS will experiment with, and deploy, a solution for the out-

standing issues presently associated with the delivery of end-to-end

QoS service across heterogeneous networks. These issues are re-

lated to the heterogeneity of the underlying network technologies,

and the resource management equipment deployed (even for com-

mon types of network technology).

The EUQOS system is based on a model that accepts the varied and

proprietary nature of resource management mechanisms deployed

by network operators and ISPs; necessitating only a common inter-

face for the communication with end-users and peer domains. It

exploits the growing popularity of SIP (or SIP-like) schemes.

Euro NGI NoE EuroNGI focuses on Next Generation Internet design and engineer-

ing. The Next Generation Internet will offer multi-service/

multimedia, mobility, convergence (services and fixed-mobile),

QoS and variable connectivity as the norm. Future high-speed wire-

line and wireless access technologies will provide instant high

bandwidth connectivity, which makes it difficult to forecast traffic

and thus to apply existing traffic engineering methods. The

telecommunications environment will remain one deploying

multiple technologies, and therefore new design, planning,

dimensioning and management principles are needed.

FLEXINET STREP FLEXINET develops a value-added complementary network and

gateways architecture for enhanced access network services and

applications. It will offer cross-connect switching/routing and ad-

vanced services and data management functions at network access

points. The focus is on UMTS and WLAN infrastructures. The goal

is to:

- relieve core networks from data handling and signalling overhead

- accelerate the introduction of new services

- broaden the current business models for service provisioning.

GANDALF STREP

GANDALF will demonstrate the simultaneous provision of Gbps

data rates to wireline and wireless access nodes, by employing a

novel optical feeder concept. The proposed optical feeder employs a

dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator at the central station, operated

in such a way that is possible to recover simultaneously the

transmitted broadband data directly at base-band or intermediate

frequency (BB/IF) and modulated onto an RF carrier. This

architecture allows therefore to remotely feed heterogeneous

(wireline and wireless) access nodes with very interesting features

when compared to previous approaches based in fibre-radio

techniques. Cost savings are anticipated.

LASAGNE STREP

All-optical label swapping is a type of optical packet switching that

is intended to solve the potential mismatch between fibre capacity

and router packet forwarding capacity. To date packet label

processing has been carried out at the electrical domain, but in order

to achieve full transparency at the optical node, it is necessary to

perform this functionality at the optical domain. Likewise, the node

optical layer needs to implement the required "intelligence" to look

up the routing table and forward the packets.

MESCAL RTD

(FP5)

MESCAL proposes and validates scalable, incremental solutions

that enable the flexible deployment and delivery of inter-domain

QoS across the multi-provider commercial Internet for uni- and

multicast services, based on IPv4 and IPv6 infrastructures. This

involves advancing the state-of-the-art in service management,

traffic engineering and routing by developing templates, protocols

and algorithms for establishing SLSs between ISPs and their

customers and peers; and a scalable solution for inter-domain traffic

engineering based on enhancements to the existing inter-domain

routing protocol and associated route selection logic. Architectures,

algorithms and protocols will be validated through simulations and

testbed experiments.

MOME CA

MOME is a Cluster providing suppport for knowledge and tool

exchange and for the co-ordination of activities in the field of IP

monitoring and measurement between IST projects and other

European initiatives. Collected data will be made accessible for the

whole community over the Internet. Monitoring and measurement

related contributions to standardisation bodies (eg. IETF) from the

participating projects will be co-ordinated by MOME. The activities

will be supported by the organisation of public workshops and

conferences.

MUSE IP MUSE will develop a low cost, full service access and edge

network, which enables the ubiquitous delivery of broadband

services to every European citizen. It integrates studies in:

- access and edge network architectures and platforms

- first mile solutions (DSL, optical access, fixed wireless access)

- interworking of the access network with home gateway and local

networks

- techno-economics.

NOBEL IP NOBEL focuses on developing an appropriate optical core/metro

network infrastructure to aggregate end-user traffic and ensure an

end-to-end transport with the desired level of quality. It will carry

out analyses, feasibility studies and experimental validations of

innovative network solutions and technologies for intelligent and

flexible optical networks. It includes strategies for the end-to-end

management and control of intra/inter-domain connections in multi-

layers networks (eg. IP over Optics).

OBAN STREP OBAN (Open Broadband Access Networks) plans to establish a

high performance broadband mobile network, based upon inexpen-

sive WLAN technology and unused capacity in the fixed access

networks. Issues addressed are:

- mobility, security and QoS as a group of related issues in hetero-

geneous networks, where seamless and fast handover, scalable

services, personalisation, ... are all important

- antenna technologies (MIMO, beamforming, ...)

- network coverage and capacity analyses and estimation

- commercial and regulatory aspects (opening for new services and

business opportunities).

OPERA IP OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) has the strategic

objective to offer low-cost broadband access service to ALL

European citizens using the most ubiquitous infrastructure: the

electricity network. Efforts will be focused on obtaining:

- an improved performance in transmission speed

- ready- to-sell and low-cost products

- a complete system specification

- a unique international regulation

- interoperability with current back-haul and in-house technologies

- a higher market share.

SATLIFE STREP

SATLIFE (Satellite Access Technologies: Leading Improvements

For Europe) will be the first R&D satellite project in the world with

a multimedia on-board processor, the (ESA) AMERHIS system,

based on the satellite standards DVB-RCS and DVB-S.

SATLIFE responds to the imperative need of facilitating the

development of broadband for all by means of significantly

enhancing the state-of-the-art of DVB-RCS satellite standard

solutions, with the focus on the integration with other terrestrial

alternatives in the implementation of the Information Society.

SEINIT STREP

A secure information infrastructure is, after widespread availability

of broadband access, the second enabler of a broader access to

Information Technology. SEINIT defines security models and

policies to address the new issues of the pervasive computing world.

SEINIT develops a trusted and dependable security framework,

working across multiple devices and, heterogeneous networks,

being organisation-independent and centred around the end-user.

SEINIT delivers guidelines and best practices manuals that facilitate

the spreading of the technology-oriented results and the acceptance

of the new approach.

U-BROAD STREP The goal of U-BROAD is to transmit Ethernet at 100Mbps over

local loop copper pairs for broadband multiservice access. This

"Ultra High Speed DSL" will be used for connecting legacy, video

and next generation services to existing and future infrastructure.

The project will develop new communications algorithms

and signal processing techniques. The main benefits are

reducing expenditures and achieving a fast ROI, by:

leveraging the existing access infrastructure

- supporting future, ultra high-speed technologies

- providing a variety of services, such as data, voice and video on

the same access lines.

The complementary coverage of these projects can be seen in the following figure:

Optical Core

Network Technologies

Broadband Access

Technologies

NOBEL (IP)

LASAGNE

Monitoring and Measurement

Economics of the Internet

Network- and Service- Management

Convergence and Interoperability

OPERA (IP)

MUSE (IP)

ATHENA

BROADWAN

U-BROAD

OBAN

CAPANINA

DIADEM

BREAD (CA)

MOME (CA)

COCOMBINE (SSA)

EURO-NGI (NoE),

ACE (NoE) E-PHOTON (NoE),

SATLIFE, FLEXINET,

GANDALF

DAIDALOS, EUQOS

MESCAL, SEINIT

Optical Core

Network Technologies

Broadband Access

Technologies

Optical Core

Network Technologies

Broadband Access

Technologies

NOBEL (IP)

LASAGNE

NOBEL (IP)

LASAGNE

Monitoring and Measurement

Economics of the Internet

Network- and Service- Management

Convergence and Interoperability

Monitoring and Measurement

Economics of the Internet

Network- and Service- Management

Convergence and Interoperability

OPERA (IP)

MUSE (IP)

ATHENA

BROADWAN

U-BROAD

OBAN

CAPANINA

DIADEM

BREAD (CA)BREAD (CA)

MOME (CA)

COCOMBINE (SSA)

EURO-NGI (NoE),

ACE (NoE) E-PHOTON (NoE),

SATLIFE, FLEXINET,

GANDALF

DAIDALOS, EUQOS

MESCAL, SEINIT

Fig. 2. The mapping of Broadband For All projects to the key issues for broadband deployment

Issues addressed in the Broadband for All Cluster are:

Technology and Applications:

- Technology trends:

• overview of leading technologies for Home Networks, Access Networks and

Core Networks

- Convergence and interoperability:

• Physical Layer

• Network Layer

- Open Issues:

• relationship with Next Generation Network activities in ETSI, ITU-T, where

the separation of the roles of network providers, service providers and ser-

vice creators is encouraged

• security

• new IP protocols

• end-to-end QoS

Business and Economic:

- Technological considerations:

• infrastructure costs

• price of mobility

- cost benefits of scale (convergence) vs niche solutions

- cost of bandwidth vs processing vs memory

- reducing the “digital divide”

- new business models

Regulatory and legal:

Fig. 3. Political aspects that are closely-related to the work of the Broadband for All

Cluster

Social and Cultural:

- an Information Society for all:

- educating governments and society in general (developed and developing na-

tions)

- promoting broadband content, eGovernment, eHealth, eLearning, eBusiness

- collectively encouraging the availability of broadband access at affordable prices

(“digital inclusion”)

Lisbon

Strategy

“EU: Largest

knowledge-based

economy by 2010”

Broadband access,

e-business,

e-government,

e-health, ...

Other policies

Single Market, Single

Currency, Security of

Europeans, Sustainable

Development, ...

ERA: European

Research Area

ERA: European

Research Area

FP6, Eureka, COST,

National Programmes

… towards a

single market

for research

Enlargement

Candidate

countries are

full partners

in FP6

Lisbon

Strategy

“EU: Largest

knowledge-based

economy by 2010”

Broadband access,

e-business,

e-government,

e-health, ...

Other policies

Single Market, Single

Currency, Security of

Europeans, Sustainable

Development, ...

ERA: European

Research Area

ERA: European

Research Area

FP6, Eureka, COST,

National Programmes

… towards a

single market

for research

Enlargement

Candidate

countries are

full partners

in FP6

- informing on current broadband status, developments both regional & worldwide

and the expected evolution (“Roadmap")

- raising awareness on information security and privacy

- fostering links to (eg.) Russia, Brazil, Japan

Fig. 4. The scope of networking environments covered by the Broadband For All projects

3 Conclusions

This paper has described the Broadband For All Cluster, which resides within the IST

(Information Society Technologies) Thematic Area of the EU’s 6

Framework Pro-

gramme.

By explaining the topics being addressed by the projects in the Cluster, it has given

a summary of the current trends in broadband provision in the access and core net-

works, from the perspective of the major manufacturers and network operators

throughout Europe.

Since there will be further Calls for projects in this Strategic Objective, it can also

be a useful guide towards assessing where important topics have been overlooked.

The added-value of having such a Cluster of related projects is to reach a consen-

sus on broadband evolution that has sufficient critical mass of support to guarantee its

standardization and deployment. This avoids spending effort on technologies and

trends that are likely to be unsuccessful in the mass market. Other benefits include the

sharing of information on topics such as: standards, events, press releases, national

initiatives, world news, … , the opportunity to share testbeds and make joint experi-

ments, organize joint workshops and conferences, etc., and increasing the visibility of

this part of the FP6 Programme.

VDSL

Passive

Splitter

Access Network

(D)WDM, IP/MPLS

(E)PON

FTTB

DSL

UMTS

Macro Cells

• Private customers

& SOHOs

• High density

housing estates

with large blocks

of apartments

•Private

customers &

SOHOs

• Low density

housing estates

with small

(single family)

houses

FTTC

Point-to-Point

Link

Metro Network

λλ

λλ λλ

λλ

DWDM

IP/MPLS, MPlS

10/40Gbps/ λ

ring / meshed

Global / WAN

10/40Gbps/ λ

meshed

10Gbps/λ downstream

up to 2.5 Gbps/λ upstream

ONT

BSONT

10 GE

Public Area

WLAN (IEEE 802.11x)

Large

Enterprises

Customer

Premises

Satellite and HAPs

BSBSBS

VDSL

Passive

Splitter

Access Network

(D)WDM, IP/MPLS

(E)PON

FTTB

DSL

UMTS

Macro Cells

• Private customers

& SOHOs

• High density

housing estates

with large blocks

of apartments

•Private

customers &

SOHOs

• Low density

housing estates

with small

(single family)

houses

FTTC

Point-to-Point

Link

Metro Network

λλλλ

λλλλ λλλλ

λλλλ

DWDM

IP/MPLS, MPlS

10/40Gbps/ λ

ring / meshed

Global / WAN

10/40Gbps/ λ

meshed

10Gbps/λ downstream

up to 2.5 Gbps/λ upstream

ONTONT

ONT ONT

BSONT BSONT

10 GE

Public Area

WLAN (IEEE 802.11x)

Large

Enterprises

Customer

Premises

Satellite and HAPs