NOC Topics
Broadband Access Technologies
Investment in broadband access is driven by competitive pressure and the need for ever increasing broadband speeds for services such as internet access, e-mail and fast file transfer. This investment in broadband technology has started with enhancements to the existing metallic local loop and will be upgraded or superseded by fibre and wireless access technologies where the cost of new infrastructure can be justified.
Here the impact of emerging broadband technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet, passive optical networks (EPON, GPON, WDM PON, Long-Reach PON, …), fast DSLs, WDM, optical amplifiers and wireless technologies on the design of broadband access networks is explored. Whilst the feeder system may be fibre, there is much uncertainty about the economics and it has yet to be determined whether the final drop will be radio (e.g. mesh), free space optics, coaxial cable, VDSL or fibre.
Transport and Photonic Networks
WDM, optical amplifiers and optical switching bring new possibilities to network design. A good understanding of the physical limitations of the technologies is needed to enable sound engineering judgement for deployment.
This theme explores new possibilities for all-optical networks such as cost-cutting (node reduction), maximising bandwidth and resilient routing in fibre networks and novel applications in optical processing area such as quantum cryptography. In the core network new techniques are being developed for higher transmission rates, optical switching, and management of the optical layer. This theme explores the ways of improving network performance and offer future cost savings.
Energy Saving in Telecommunications Networks
Achieving efficient provision of telecommunications services whilst also being economical in the way energy is consumed, both by user devices and by the network is becoming a key objective in networks.
The aim of this theme is to explore how it is possible for the telecommunications sector to be both “lean” and “green”. Energy saving will reduce the cost of energy, reduce the carbon footprint (of fossil-fuel-generated electricity), reduce the cost of power backup for lifeline services, and enable new technology solutions such as remote powered DSL and ONUs.
Optical Networks at Home and in Transportation Environments
Optical data links and bus systems based on plastic optical fibre (POF) are becoming increasingly attractive for home and transportation environments, such as the automotive and the aerospace industries. This theme explores new developments and applications of POF-based networks in these environments.
Metropolitan Networks
Deregulation has opened up opportunities to deliver new services and is driving innovation through the competitive supply of high bandwidth products to the business community, through the use of technologies such as DWDM, high capacity routers, Gigabit Ethernet and storage area networks.
This theme explores new ideas and technologies, which could extend the capability of routes, change the architectural structure, offer resilience and open up new bandwidth and services.
Advances in Component Technology
Devices such as optical amplifiers, filters, tuneable lasers and filters are key enablers for optical networks. New devices can have a significant impact on the architecture and shape the economics of future optical networks. This theme explores new device technologies, which could offer exciting new opportunities in Optical Networking.
Future directions for QoS, Circuit and Packet Switched Networks
Low-cost transmission technologies such as Ethernet and WLAN, and protocols such as IP have led to claims that all services will be carried this way in the future. Many networks are being configured to do just this. If networks have unlimited capacity, packets can pass through the network as if driving on an empty highway. The objective of this theme is to explore ways of ensuring that 'guaranteed', 'best effort' and other classes of services can be carried in a bandwidth-limited traffic situation.
Meeting end-end quality-of-service and bandwidth-on-demand requirements for next generation optical networks presents special challenges for network engineers. QoS solutions such as GFP (generic framing procedure) and LCAS (link capacity adjustment schemes) represent key solutions to be considered in this area. The aim of this theme is to understand how these and related technologies will play their part in providing bandwidth-on-demand with Quality of Service.
Convergence and Multilayer Networks
In recent years, hybrid optical networks, which simultaneously employ several switching paradigms, and even optical and wireless technologies, have been proposed. Moreover, there is a clear trend to facilitate the interoperability of the IP and optical layer, thus leading to multilayer networking, where new mechanisms to manage and coordinate the capacity of both network layers are required in order to optimise network performance.
This theme will report new hybrid and multilayer architectures as well as control mechanisms.
Service Provision and Management Platforms
Deployment of new network technology to meet business objectives in a competitive environment presents a set of challenges which may seem far-removed from the technologies themselves. How to minimise unused or ‘stranded’ assets? How to make profit in the early years? How to grow the network? How to maintain good records?
Maintaining the network over its service life requires an understanding of when and how to replace components which have different life-spans and failure rates. How can we make the network hands-off? What is the trade-off between pre-provisioning and reactive intervention?
The aim of this theme is to explore novel ways of addressing provision and maintenance problems to minimise cost and speed up response to customer requests.
Network Architecture, Strategy and Standardisation
Achieving high availability and coverage while migrating from legacy to new network technologies requires specialist skills in the areas of network architecture and planning. The correct deployment strategy is the key to profitability and network availability.
The aim of this theme is to report on innovative network architecture solutions to enable new technologies to be deployed with minimum risk.
Technical Co-Sponsorship
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