Telecommunication networks
Speed is nothing without control
A telecommunication network is an infrastructure that sustains the transmission of information between two or more geographically distant devices connected to the same network. These devices (telephones, computers, smartphones, fax machines and webcams) can communicate with each other thanks to an integrated set of hardware and software components.
The infrastructure consists of network devices (routers, switches, and modems) that manage and route data; transmission channels (copper cables, fibre optics, wireless, and satellites) through which data travels; and communication procedures and protocols – the rules and standards that ensure the correct sending, receiving, and interpretation of information.
Thanks to this infrastructure, telecommunications networks make effective, continuous and reliable communication possible between people, companies and systems, wherever they are.
Access network
The access network (also known as the “last mile”) is the infrastructure that connects the company premises to the nearest local exchange. It uses various transmission media (Copper, Optical Fibre or Wireless) based on the available technologies and the customer’s bandwidth needs. The most popular access technologies are those that use copper and fibre optics, or a combination of the two. The distance of the company premises from the street cabinet or local exchange affects the performance of copper access, to the extent that the service may become unavailable.
The transport network is the infrastructure that interconnects the national and international access networks. It mainly uses high-capacity fibre transmission media. Operators (such as Vianova) and service providers constitute the main network nodes that make up the internet.
Optical fibre
Types of fibre optic connectivity (FTTH)
Dedicated
The dedicated fibre directly connects the router at the customer’s premises with the operator’s PoP. The fibre access cable is used exclusively by a single customer, with a 1:1 ratio. This network architecture guarantees constant performance and greater resilience.
Shared
With shared fibre, the connection passes through a building switch or a street cabinet (OLT) before reaching the PoP and is used by multiple users (1 :x). Access performance, therefore, depends on factors, such as simultaneous use, which must be constantly monitored by the operator to ensure the quality of the service.
Access technologies
FTTC (Fiber To The Cabinet)
The fibre optic connection arrives in an external cabinet very close to the user’s premises (typically within 700 metres), and then reaches the premises with a copper pair using VDSL or VDSL2 technology.
FTTH (Fiber To The Home)
The fibre optic connection reaches the user’s premises directly. The fibre can be dedicated or shared (e.g., in FTTH connectivity with GPON technology).
xDSL
The user’s premises are reached by one or more copper pairs using ADSL (asymmetric) or SU DSL (symmetric) technology, connected directly to a DSLAM installed in the local exchange (Line Stage).
Radio
The user’s premises are reached by a shared-band point-to-multipoint or dedicated-band point-to-point wireless link using Hiperian or WIMax technologies.
Network management
The technological evolution of telecommunication networks has provided Operators the opportunity to adopt network resource management policies (known as “overbooking”) capable of transferring significant economies of scale to end customers. However, these savings, based on the rate of simultaneous use of resources, require operators to have a higher level of network monitoring and control than in the past in order to avoid unwanted performance degradation due to saturation. Any operator that intends to pursue challenging quality objectives must be able to constantly measure and adapt its services to the actual practices and real needs of its Customers.
