During the implementation of ALL IP based FMC, operators face various challenges. For example, what is the best way of constructing a carrier-grade ALL IP network? How can subscribers' growing demand for ultra-broadband be met? What measures are needed to meet different users' needs for differentiated service operations? How can service experiences be enhanced? How can we effectively minimize income loss and maximize profits? To address these questions, Huawei has introduced its IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution. Our reporter invites Mr. Daniel Tang, Vice President of Huawei network product line, to explain the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience' s features.

An integrated solution with unique value

Q: What exactly is the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution?

Daniel: The goal of IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience is to gradually realize the unified deployment of ALL IP based FMC. It' s oriented towards IP broadband network architecture design and evolution, and mainly focuses on the ALL IP services that are carried by the bearer network. These include the access and aggregation networks, the service Point of Presence (PoP), and the IP core. The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution enables the home network solutions and remaining part of the telecom network infrastructure to deliver voice, high speed internet, IPTV, VPN and mobile broadband experiences.

Multi-Play is an FMC-oriented integrated solution that is used by telecom operators to deploy integrated services such as voice, high-speed Internet, mobile broadband, and video entertainment. Target networks include ALL IP based FMC that feature unified core, bearer, and home networks. This solution demonstrats Huawei' s ability to provide differentiated services, innovative business models, an open service platform based on IMS architecture, and an end-to-end Multi-Play bearer network.

At present, Huawei' s IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution forms a Multi-Play Ready bearer network solution.

Q: What are the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience' s unique innovations and service experiences?

Daniel: Based on the full understanding of operators' requirements that incorporates converged services and their special network requirements, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution embodies a range of farsighted concepts. These cover users' ultra-broadband requirements; differentiated IP networks and service operations; reliable ALL IP telecom networks; traditional service migration and smooth network evolution; and sustainable green networks.

The solution is designed to comply with international standards and it provides open interfaces. It aims to deliver a reliable and open network platform by carrying FMC in a unified manner. The solution helps operators to increase their service partners and provides end users with a faster, richer, and more unified service experience.

At present, Huawei has worked with many operators in delivering IP Broadband Service Experience projects. France Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica Spain, SingTel, and China Telecom have all garnered significant financial benefits from the Huawei solution that has met–and continues to meet–end users' service requirements.

Q: What is the technology that supports these unique values?

Daniel: At present, the requirements of users are not restrained to data services; they extend to innovative services offerings including data, communication, entertainment, and interactive processing. The access mode is not confined to fixed terminals and the access bandwidth requirement for FMC is increasing. A user bandwidth exceeding 100M (ultra-broadband) is necessary in the future. An in-depth analysis of industry trends coupled with a focus on user requirements has stimulated innovation in the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution so that it not only meets users' requirements for ultra-broadband services, but it is also equipped with end-to-end ultra-broadband network capabilities.



In terms of access, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience obtains its structure from a unified software and hardware platform comprising both optical and copper access, which in turn ensures product series' inheritance capabilities. The 10GE uplink interface, FE/GPON/GE downlink interface, backplane bus–which features Terabit switching capacity–all improves ultra-broadband access.

With respect to convergence, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience cluster routers support EoMPLS+, T-MPLS, and PBB-TE, and meet application requirements in various scenarios. The capability of the large-capacity 80-channel 10GE and 80-channel 40G OTNs ably respond to rapidly increasing traffic on the convergence side.

At the service POP, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience is capable of large-capacity user management that reaches 128k for a single point, 128k for user DHCP capability, and 4000 leased lines for its multi-service control gateway system. Together, these features fulfill users' requirements for ultra-broadband applications.

On the backbone IP side in terms of service application requirements, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience boasts carrier-grade protection at the IP layer, with a protection switching time of 200ms that is complemented by rich L2/L3 VPN and quality of service (QoS) capabilities. High definition flow media services can be successfully deployed. The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience also features smooth scalability and multi-frame clustering to meet backbone layer traffic growth.

On the backbone optical side, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience consists of the OTN/ROADM and GMPLS control plane, which supports flexible service provisioning, grooming and control. To improve equipment utilization, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience includes the 40G reverse multiplexing and bypass large-granularity traffic grooming functions. Aged fibers can be used for transmission and to lower router port occupation. The solution also features a long-distance DWDM with an 80-channel 40GE/100GE port to fully meet a swift increase in traffic on the carrier-grade backbone side, and to decrease TCO for operators.

Differentiated operation ensures quality

Q: You mentioned "differentiated IP networks and service operations". As we know, most operators are currently confronted with the loss of traditional voice users, a continuous decrease in ARPU, and a lack of new services to supplement income. So, how can the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution ameliorate these problems?

Daniel: As the multi-service convergence era draws closer with IPTV as a typical application, operators currently face difficulties in three major ways.

First of all, the current coarse networks do not recognize subscriber services particularly well and they lack the ability to deliver diversified service models and tariff packages. Secondly, these networks have no specialized QoS guarantee system for higher level users or valuable services. Thirdly, for low value services, exploiting network resources without limit cannot be sustained. Operators can only stand and watch the rapid development of the ICP service and are unable participate in designing future Internet service development. Consequently, it' s difficult to create a new and effective broadband business model.

Although operators have network and bandwidth advantages, it is impossible to develop both under the current coarse network structures. Huawei' s IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution is dedicated to constructing operational capability within differentiated networks; this encapsulates a number of aspects.

Firstly, we must build a control capability into end-to-end differentiated network channels. This includes network reconstruction, end-to-end QoS control, and introduction of the RACS control system. Secondly, we need to provide an IMS-based open network and create an innovative environment for service applications. Thirdly, a future-oriented and unified IP packet-based bearer network is essential.

In short, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience helps operators construct a multi-service IP bearer network and a resource control system for the bearer network. Users can be recognized, services differentiated, quality controlled, and the network can be effectively managed. The function of NGN/IMS with differentiated bandwidth operation can be realized. Dynamic control can be supported in terms of receiving end-to-end network resources and services ranging from the backbone network to the access network.

Q: Now, differentiated services are guaranteed. However, services are carried in the network in a unified manner because of network convergence, while signaling control and service bearing are isolated. So, operators face great challenges in providing users with quality experiences. How does the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solve this problem?

Daniel: Operators' focus should shift from the physical link and network QoS to user quality of experience (QoE). The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution solves the user QoE problem with respect to service quality management (SQM), QoS, and enhanced video experience.

In the SQM field, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience has open standard interfaces and internal end-to-end soft probes. The interfaces are compatible with the third party SQM Centre, and help facilitate the industry chain' s cohesive development. The internal end-to-end soft probes avoid the increased investment costs of using external probes, reduce networking complexity, and minimize fault points. Through the SQM deployment, OPEX is reduced, and user QoE and loyalty are improved.

In terms of QoS, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience boasts multi-layer end-to-end QoS and carrier-grade OAM. Its distributed service sensing eases BRAS pressures; the centralized policy control RACS maximizes network resource availability; and the distributed execution strategy increases resource utilization. The CAC+DS mechanism controls different service channels' priorities and resource reservation, and realizes end-to-end QoS.

The network CAC control forms the main method to guarantee high QoE as it effectively prevents network congestion and guarantees service bandwidth. The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience features H-QoS with five-hierarchy queue scheduling capabilities, DiffServ, DS-TE, and rich OAM features, including physical layer OAM (OTN), Ethernet OAM, and MPLS OAM.

Enhanced Video Experience mechanisms further guarantee end user QoE by, for example, fast frequency switching, frame buffering, and the re-transmission of lost packets.

Q: Minimizing energy consumption to maximize eco-friendliness is a hot industry topic. How does the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience achieve this aim?

Daniel: Its advanced chip technology, innovative portable power saving technology, and full heat dissipation capability can help operators reduce power consumption by 30% over the three years following the solution' s inception.

At the network solution level, the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience' s green design reduces average equipment power consumption and weight by 40% and 30% respectively, and the ASIC chips customized for the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience don' t require additional power. The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience is highly integrated, and its chipset is functionally very powerful; a single chip can replace several commercial chips, which saves over 30% in power consumption.

The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience' s GMPLS increases effective bandwidth utilization from 33.6–75%, and network simplification can increase efficiency by more than 30%.

Future oriented and deployed worldwide

Q: So far, you' ve explained how the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience can help operators overcome their current difficulties. What is the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience' s future?

Daniel: In the rapidly changing IT industry, we fully understand that the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience must not only meet the service experience requirements of end users, but it also needs to protect telecom investment. The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience protects operators' network resources and facilitates a future-oriented network with strong evolutionary potential. These characteristics position ALL IP based FMC as a unified bearing platform. During network evolution to ALL IP based FMC, traditional service migration and seamless network evolution are vital.

The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience features ATM/TDM PWE3 and IP over E1; it successfully solves the difficulties and challenges encountered in service migration. It guarantees smooth evolution to an ALL IP based FMC network as it comprises ultra-broadband, synchronous telecom Ethernet, the 1588V2 clock with GPS, rich IP/MPLS, and converged multi-functional XGSN.

The IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience provides differentiated protection schemes for various services and user levels. A "node, link, and plane" protection mechanism coupled with technologies such as RPR, SmartLink, RRPP, and BFD, can ensure the successful deployment of differentiated protection schemes and rapid service switching.

Q: With such abundant advantages, how is the IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience currently recognized across the industry?

Daniel: Increasingly fierce competition and the continued shrinkage of traditional services have forced operators on a global level to channel R&D investment into new technologies, products, and business models. Tier 1 operators in Europe–such as Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom–are actively deploying or developing their unified bearer networks based on FMC.

In the middle of 2006, Deutsche Telekom initiated its "Telekom 2010" plan, which emphasizes some key Multi-Play service fields for innovations such as IPTV, mobile TV, wireless Internet, and ICT services. France Telecom, moreover, is gradually completing its ALL IP based FMC in structured phases.

To date, Huawei' s IP Broadband Architecture for Service Experience solution has been successfully applied by 30 of the top 50 global operators including Telefónica, SingTel, Telecom Italia, Etisalat, and Orange/FT.