Subscriber Access Communication Systems

Abstract

The objective of the project was to identify a market niche and specify the requirements for a system which would provide the opportunity to deploy more optical fibre based products. The area of the telecommunications network identified as offering the best opportunity to pursue this strategy was the local access loop of various Post and Telecommunications (P&T) authorities around the world.The thesis identifies two market segments where the requirements exist for;

a) first time provisioning of telecommunication services to the rural areas of the developing world

and

b) providing enhanced, flexible services to the business centres of the industrialised nations of the world.The most prevalent subscriber and network signalling interfaces required to be developed on a network aiming to provide services in the access part of the local telecommunications network are identified. A rural model is developed, based on research carried out by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) illustrating aspects such as typical network topology, growth scenarios and service requirements. The system solution designed to meet the needs of the end user in a rural environment is described at the system and sub-system levels.

As a result of the system requirements identified as part of this project the engineering team within the company progressed to develop the Flexible Digital Access Multiplexer. The requirements are also identified for a Network Controller which would provide the P&T network operator with the capability to remotely manage and administer the Access System implemented in the region.As a result of the system work and developments implemented to address the requirements of the rural market the company was well positioned to address the opportunity which arose to provide Flexible Access Systems to the Stock Exchange in the City of London during 1986. The Business Access System developed for use in this market is also described in this thesis.

The areas of improvement in the various network elements making up the Access System for any future applications are stated and the thesis concludes by highlighting the key achievements of the project.