First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies [Hardcover]

Ashwin Gumaste (Author), Tony Antony (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2004

Learn about the technologies that drive fast broadband access in the first mile and master the design of first mile access networks

• Understand the motivating forces behind first mile access networks and learn about the technology and business requirements for first mile access solutions
• Master the design of passive optical networks (PON)
• Build EPON solutions and differentiate them from BPON and GPON
• Enhance bandwidth capacity in the access area using CWDM technology
• Learn about and design DSL and power-line communication (PLC) networks
• Discover the use of WiFi in the first mile and study the subsystems involved in a WiFi solution
• Learn the importance of management in first mile access networks and create a business case for diverse first mile access networks

First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies provides a platform for showcasing first mile access technologies and associated network solutions. Using this book, you learn about the bandwidth bottleneck within the first mile and explore the resulting business prospects. Benefit from a thorough and thoughtful discussion of the business case for the first mile, which helps you approach the issue from multiple perspectives. Examine multiple access technologies, understand the diversity of solutions within this area, and take your solutions further using sound and unique management techniques. Utilize the solid and tested implementation method provided by this book to remove networking anomalies, such as the digital divide. This book helps you understand and capitalize on the market opportunity presented by the first mile.

First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies covers multiple technologies, protocols, and business methods and can be used to understand the growth of first mile access networks and resulting business opportunities.

This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Master optical First Mile technologies with this end-to-end solutions guide that incorporates the most current advances and features

• Understand the range of First Mile technologies available in the marketplace and the policies and technologies impacting future trends
• Review step-by-step guides to building end-to-end solutions for optical networking
• Master Free Space Optics, EPON, and PON design and concepts
• Learn technology options with coverage of the latest optical switching systems

Named by an IEEE task force, the first mile refers to the connections between business/residential subscribers and the public networks central office or point of presence. This task force, of which Cisco is a member, is developing standards and products that use Ethernet as the Layer 2 protocol of choice for the economical and efficient delivery of broadband related services.

First Mile Advanced Access Technologies reviews the standards, policies, products, features and services related to the growing delivery of broadband services. It provides an overview of all the protocols currently bringing services to the first mile, including DSL, cable modems, ISDN, satellite, and broadband wireless. The book then moves forward detailing the advancements and capabilities of optical networking. The book also provides end-to-end solution designs, incorporating the latest advancements in the technologies and reviewing the capabilities of some of the newest optical switching systems. A specific review of scalability keeps current design guides in tune with potential future needs.

First Mile Advanced Access Technologies offers readers step-by-step, basic to advanced coverage of an end-to-end solution for optical networking.

Ashwin Gumaste is currently completing a PhD in Optical Networking and is also part of the Photonics Networking Laboratory with Fujitsu. He is the author of DWDM Network Design and Engineering Solutions from Cisco Press.

,b>Tony Anthony, CCNP, CCIP, is a Technical Marketing Engineer with the Optical Networking Group at Cisco Systems. He is the author of DWDM Network Design and Engineering Solutions from Cisco Press.

About the Author

Ashwin Gumaste received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. Currently, Ashwin is with Fujitsu Laboratories in the Photonics Networking Laboratory (PNL) group in Richardson, Texas, where his research includes network development and design. Previously, Ashwin worked with Cisco Systems under the Optical Networking Group. He has written numerous papers and has more than two dozen pending or approved U.S. and EU patents, and in 1991, Ashwin was awarded the National Talent Search Scholarship in India. His research interests include optical and wireless networking and self-similar phenomenon in social and networking environments. He proposed the first architecture to implement optical burst transport and dynamic lightpath provisioning, called Light-trails, and also proposed the Light-frame framework-a conceptual model for future packet mode optical communication. He is the coauthor of DWDM Network Designs and Engineering Solutions, published by Cisco Press.

Tony Antony, CCNP, CCIP, has more than 13 years of telecommunications/data-networking experience and is currently working at Cisco Systems as a technical marketing engineer in the Service Provider Solutions Engineering Group. He received a master's degree in telecommunications from Southern Methodist University and also holds multiple other certifications, such as FC-SAN. Tony's previous experience includes engineering positions at Texas Instruments, Raytheon, Knowledge Laboratories, TTI, and KPMG. He has authored numerous technical papers at international conferences in the networking area. His research interests include optical Internet and network simulations. He is the coauthor of DWDM Network Designs and Engineering Solutions, published by Cisco Press.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Cisco Press (March 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158705129X
• ISBN-13: 978-1587051296
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,249,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies, April 6, 2004

By 

Dan Maunz (East Coast, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies (Hardcover)

This book provides an interesting in-depth look at first mile access network architectures and technologies. It begins with an introduction to the "Digital Divide" problem and introduces the technologies to be looked at throughout the rest of the text; namely DSL networks (and its derivations), optical fiber networks, cable networks, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and wireless networks.

The author covers passive optical networks first, with a discussion of the various topologies in use, and some of the problems that can be encountered with each one.
This chapter introduces some logarithmic math, but don't worry! The book is well written and easily understandable whether you are looking for an overview of the various technologies, or need a good reference book to look up the formula for the signal loss properties of different media. Equations and formulas are sprinkled throughout the book for reference. ATM, broadband, and Ethernet over optical networks are covered with the advantages and disadvantages of each in relation to cost, performance and protocol issues. Chapter 3 continues the theme with a fairly interesting discussion of CWDM and DWDM (course and dense wave division multiplexing, respectively) and their application to access-area networking.

The next section of the book introduces wireless data communication networks and discusses time, frequency, and code division multiplexing technologies, the theory behind antenna gain and half power beam-width, and the different types of antennas. WLANs and the 802.11 IEEE standard are looked at, with an in-depth look at the evolution of the 802.11 standard, and specifically the 802.11b high rate wireless LAN standard. This leads nicely into the next chapter where IEEE 802.16 is examined, and its use for metropolitan or geographically dispersed end-users. The 802.16 reference model, physical layer, modulation schemes, security standards, quality of service (QoS), and a few design caveats are covered. Chapter 6 introduces free space optics (FSOs) and laser transmitters. This is a particularly interesting chapter as it starts out with the basic operation and theory of FSO and brings the reader right into the nuts and bolts with a fairly thorough look at photo-detectors, optical receivers and performance, noise theory and SNR, the mechanics of lenses and mirrors, and beam scattering factors.

DSL technologies are examined in Chapter 7, which begins with an introduction to the general concepts of DSL and symmetrical and asymmetrical services. A page or two is devoted to a discussion of each of the 7 different flavors of DSL presented in the book, as well as Long-Reach Ethernet (LRE). The chapter wraps up with a brief look at line encoding standards and a few deployment issues that may be encountered with DSL.

Power Line Communication (PLC) within the first mile is looked at next, beginning with a discussion of the various challenges of providing data services over an infrastructure that was designed to transmit power. An real-life case study is used here to illustrate a complete end-to-end PLC solution complete with equipment examples and specifications. The case study is concluded with a look at the HomePlug V1.0 PLC specification and PLC market trends.

Chapter 9 is a slightly less technical in nature, and takes the reader through management and quality of service (QoS) issues of first mile access networks. QoS concepts, routing issues, VLANs, and multi protocol label switching (MPLS) are discussed.

The last couple of chapters are interesting as they neatly pull together all the concepts and information presented in previous chapters. To demonstrate mastery of all the material, Chapter 10 presents a well written, challenging case study in the design and implementation of a complete first mile access network.

Overall, this book serves as a welcome addition to any technical bookshelf. Whether a seasoned technical expert looking for a good reference book, or a beginner looking to learn about first mile access technologies, this book is well written for both audiences. For those looking to test their knowledge on the material covered in this book, each chapter provides a section of insightful and challenging questions.