Work package 2 focuses on the broadband access and aggregation technologies and methodologies. It will identify existing and emerging (and promising) broadband technologies define the technology options for delivering residential services. Generally, Broadband describes high-speed, high-capacity data communication making use of a wide range of technologies that often have diverse characteristics and seem appropriate for certain network scenarios and situations. There is no specific (international) definition or unique standard for Broadband and the range of service speeds varies typically from 128 Kbps to 100 Mbps for broadband access. For instance ADSL2+ supports speeds up to 16 Mbps, Cable up to 30 Mbps, while at the high-end VDSL offers up to 52 Mbps and WiFI 802.11g up to 54 Mbps of aggregate bandwidth with next generation fiber providing capacities to the home up to 100 Mbps
For the purpose of this project a number of different access technologies will be considered such as DSL, Cable, Satellite, Broadcast Wireless, powerline communications and fibre access (e.g., FttX) networks. Input and feedback about the various technologies (which are not specifically targeted by the project such as WiFi, UMTS) will mainly come from other research groups within the project partner.s organizations, from the interaction with other EU or national project and from collaboration and the involvement of the affiliated partners.
The broadband access technologies we will consider include the main building blocks, basic build rules, technology limitations (such as customer drop, aggregation capacity, interoperability, security) and parameters for each. The workpackage will also consider new technologies developed in other parts of the FP6 programme, examine their applicability as to exploit the benefits they may bring. It will determine any additional components to be included for evaluating broadband access technologies (and considered later in the .Case Studies. and .Strategic Modelling and Planning. workpackages) such as cost factors (equipment, installation, maintenance), stability, and growth prospects that could be specific to certain scenarios (e.g., network evolution, mixed residential and business, metro, urban, rural and remote areas scenarios etc). It will also define the set of services and the market sectors, following priorities set by the ‘eEurope 2005’ study and the local interpretations of it.
The workpackage will involve extensive and systematic surveying and benchmarking tasks. Data will also be gathered from a variety of other sources in the region representing metro, urban, rural and isolated communities, including local agencies, where data is available, or from commercial sources. Usage pattern, user profile and demands and other characteristics will be determined.
The workpackage will include identifying the broadband service models needed to support delivery of e-services (residential, e-business, e-learning, e-health) specific to each partner’s country, given that certain conditions (societal, economical, regulatory, etc.) may differ from country to country, even from territory to territory. Focus is on the so- called ‘Last Mile’ connectivity and more specifically on the broadband access for residential, small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs/SOHOs) and public service users (such as doctors, libraries and schools). We will determine the technology limitations for each network component for the defined e-services. Representative take-up patterns, usage levels and growth rates in broadband services will be identified, analyzed and compiled.
Benchmarking activities will expose the strengths and weaknesses in particular key areas such as high-speed connectivity and e-services. In order to determine the priorities and impact of broadband services, we need to understand and capture the needs, conditions and issues (technological, societal, cultural, economical) with respect to different situations (e.g., broadband urban in the Netherlands vs. broadband urban deployment in Poland or Greece) and how could one situation map to another (in terms of technology, market assumptions). The final requirements, design parameters, market drivers of the broadband scenarios (available/proposed solutions) to be considered for potential development (specific to different cases, e.g., remote areas connectivity) will be included in a conclusive current state and planning report.
Each partner will be tasked to compile a survey report on the current state and any future evolution plans with respect to the deployment of broadband technologies and access and local practices in the partner’s country, including mapping information (structure of urban, rural areas), regulatory framework, cost/price structure. The work package will interact with the ‘Liaise with ICT Activities and Projects’ sub-workpackage (WP1.3) and will provide valuable input to WP3 (Case Studies) and WP4 (Strategic Modelling and Planning).
Although the focus of this action is not on studying the actual socio-economic aspects of broadband access such factors and their impact are interlinked with the techno-economic and policy studies component of the BReATH project. Hence, understanding and exploring the various socio-economic issues and their evolution with technology will be helpful and supportive in carrying out this workpackage. We also note that the cultural and societal aspects of introducing broadband access is a significant parameter in developing feasible and sustainable economic business models.
Another interrelated component is the issue of network and information security (towards a safer Internet) that can become a serious hindrance in the take-up of broadband by consumers if communication cannot be trustworthy. This is factor that will have to be taken into consideration when developing policies and strategies as it may have serious implications. The workpackage will explore lessons leaned from past experiences in countries leading in broadband access (e.g., The Netherlands, U.K.) and identify ways how to build confidence and trust in electronic communications (e.g., certification services, Internet security solutions, implementation of the eEurope 2005 security policies) applied in the developing broadband access markets, taking into consideration any social or cultural parameters.