ACIF Publishes Rules for New Generation of Broadband Services
Faster Internet using ADSL2, ADSL2plus, ESHDSL
The Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) today published new rules to coordinate the introduction of faster broadband Internet services such as video on demand and video conferencing.
The revised code and a new technical standard update existing rules for the deployment of broadband services that use Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology to send signals over traditional copper telephone lines.
The next generation services such as ADSL2 and ADSL2plus now being introduced can not only carry data many times faster than ADSL but for greater distances. In doing so, they create complex technical issues relating to interference and equipment interoperability.
The ACIF code and technical standard are designed to overcome these issues by specifying technical requirements and addressing the management of interference on the lines. This will allow service providers to maximise the number and quality of services they can offer their customers.
Anyone who has experienced a crossed line on a phone call will appreciate the importance of reducing interference between services, explained Anne Hurley, chief executive officer, ACIF. In a digital broadband environment there is an even greater need for interference management because of the changing nature of digital signals at different distances from the exchange and at different frequencies and signal levels.
The challenge is to optimize network performance so that everyone gets the best possible service. After all, theres not much point delivering five video channels to the people living next door to the exchange if everyone down the road cant even have reliable Internet access.
The ACIF technical standard incorporates the latest available international equipment recommendations and specifications to enhance interoperability with global networks.
The ACIF Working Committee that updated the two documents had representation from telecommunications carriers, service providers, equipment suppliers, industry consultants, the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and consumers.
Both documents were released for public comment on December 17 and revised to take account of the responses before being submitted to the ACIF Board for approval at its meeting yesterday.
The Working Committee had a huge task in finalising these documents because the global standards and specifications for these new services continue to evolve, Ms Hurley said.
However the coordinated and consultative approach we have taken in devising these new rules means that Australians will be able to enjoy high performance broadband services that meet the test of quality and integrity.
Typical ADSL services operate at a maximum speed of 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) supporting email, web access, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and some multimedia applications.
The new generation broadband services covered by the two documents include ADSL2 (up to 12 Mbps) and ADSL2plus (up to 24 Mbps) which also support more sophisticated services, including interactive video, broadcast quality television and videoconferencing. Another emerging technology covered by the ACIF code and technical standard is Extended-rate Single-pair High-speed DSL (ESHDSL), which is mainly used for corporate broadband applications and operates at rates of up to 5Mbps in both directions.
To view the two documents, click on the following link http://acif.org.au/home
About ACIF
ACIF is a member-funded organisation established in 1997 to facilitate communications self-regulation in the interests of both industry and consumers.
ACIF provides a neutral forum in which all participants and end-users in the Australian communications industry can work together to foster an efficient, competitive environment through self-regulatory processes, technical codes and standards.
The revised code and a new technical standard update existing rules for the deployment of broadband services that use Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology to send signals over traditional copper telephone lines.
The next generation services such as ADSL2 and ADSL2plus now being introduced can not only carry data many times faster than ADSL but for greater distances. In doing so, they create complex technical issues relating to interference and equipment interoperability.
The ACIF code and technical standard are designed to overcome these issues by specifying technical requirements and addressing the management of interference on the lines. This will allow service providers to maximise the number and quality of services they can offer their customers.
Anyone who has experienced a crossed line on a phone call will appreciate the importance of reducing interference between services, explained Anne Hurley, chief executive officer, ACIF. In a digital broadband environment there is an even greater need for interference management because of the changing nature of digital signals at different distances from the exchange and at different frequencies and signal levels.
The challenge is to optimize network performance so that everyone gets the best possible service. After all, theres not much point delivering five video channels to the people living next door to the exchange if everyone down the road cant even have reliable Internet access.
The ACIF technical standard incorporates the latest available international equipment recommendations and specifications to enhance interoperability with global networks.
The ACIF Working Committee that updated the two documents had representation from telecommunications carriers, service providers, equipment suppliers, industry consultants, the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and consumers.
Both documents were released for public comment on December 17 and revised to take account of the responses before being submitted to the ACIF Board for approval at its meeting yesterday.
The Working Committee had a huge task in finalising these documents because the global standards and specifications for these new services continue to evolve, Ms Hurley said.
However the coordinated and consultative approach we have taken in devising these new rules means that Australians will be able to enjoy high performance broadband services that meet the test of quality and integrity.
Typical ADSL services operate at a maximum speed of 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) supporting email, web access, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and some multimedia applications.
The new generation broadband services covered by the two documents include ADSL2 (up to 12 Mbps) and ADSL2plus (up to 24 Mbps) which also support more sophisticated services, including interactive video, broadcast quality television and videoconferencing. Another emerging technology covered by the ACIF code and technical standard is Extended-rate Single-pair High-speed DSL (ESHDSL), which is mainly used for corporate broadband applications and operates at rates of up to 5Mbps in both directions.
To view the two documents, click on the following link http://acif.org.au/home
About ACIF
ACIF is a member-funded organisation established in 1997 to facilitate communications self-regulation in the interests of both industry and consumers.
ACIF provides a neutral forum in which all participants and end-users in the Australian communications industry can work together to foster an efficient, competitive environment through self-regulatory processes, technical codes and standards.
