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1. GSC-8/GTSC-1/GRSC-1 Ottawa, Canada 28 April – 1 May 2003 GSC-8-021 DOCUMENT FOR:

2. Broadband Access: Cutting through the standards maze Presented by Keith G Knightson 1 Decision or Action Requested Promote development of rationalization among Broadband Access standards, and open access model. 2 References 3 Issues for Discussion Proposals for rationalization and open access.

3. Abstract: This contribution will outline the diversity and complexity of standards associated with the provision of Broadband Access, using DSL, Cable and Fixed Wireless systems. Recommendations will be made for the reduction and rationalization of standards among these systems, together with the potential use of layer 2 standards for facilitating access to Internet Service Providers.

4. Standards Issues Standards Challenges: • Multitude of different protocol stack combinations; • Provision of standardized points of interconnection for open access.

5. Cable Systems Protocol Standards Security Management SNMP TFTP DHCP UDP IP & ICMP ARP IP over Ethernet Ethernet Link security MAC Transmission Convergence (downstream only) Physical Media

6. PPPoA IP/Eth PPPoE L2TPoA IP/AAL5 IP PPP PPP PPPoE PPP PPPoA Ethernet Ethernet L2TP LLC or VC Mux AAL5 ATM DSL DSL Systems Protocol Standards

7. IP Convergence ATM Convergence Ethernet Convergence MAC Privacy Transmission Convergence 802.16 Physical Layer Fixed Wireless Broadband Protocol Standards

8. The Maze • Some stacks use Ethernet, some don't, • Some stacks use ATM, some don't, • Some stacks use PPP, some don't. • Lack of open Point of Interconnections (POIs) at each layer, results in bundling of service with transmission. • LAN access problems: • Different LAN Users access to different ISPs. • ISPs access to specific LAN users.

9. Guidelines for Interconnection Standards Principle 1 The variation between protocol stacks should be reduced to a minimum. Principle 2 The commonality between protocol stacks should be maximised. Principle 3 Tunneling should be used “interwork” non-compatible network segments. Principle 4 The protocol stack should be consistent with independent provision of any of peering points at any layer in the protocol stack.

10. Guidelines for Interconnection Standards (2) Principle 5 The protocol stack should facilitate the provision of value-added services. Principle 6 The protocol stack should facilitate access security. Principle 7 The protocol stack should facilitate QoS provision (involving quantifiable and measurable levels of service). Principle 8 The protocol stack should provide flexibility for mixing and matching different underlying physical media. Principle 9 There should be equal access to the point of community aggregation.

11. Scope for Protocol Stack Rationalization? Recommendation: IP PPP L2TP Ethernet AAL5 Various Physical Media Simplification and Facilitation of ISP interconnection

12. Recommended Interconnection/Peering Arrangements ISP L2TP/PPP AAL5 Stack D S L A M ISPs Metro ATM Users AAL5 Stack LMDS = Potential layer 2 POIs Ethernet Stack Ethernet Stack Ethernet Switch Local Ethernet ISPs Metro Ethernet Users CATV Middle mile Last mile

13. Broadband: Equal Access Model SP2 SP4 SP5 SP1 SP3 Access or Backbone Access or Backbone User1 User2 SP = Service Provider

14. Broadband: Bottleneck Access Model SP4 SP3 SP5 SP6 SP7 Backbone Backbone SP1 SP2 Access Access User5 User6 User2 User3 User1 User4

15. Broadband Access Issues - 1 • The separation of service from facilities, • Access should permit: • independent provision of terminal equipment, • user choice for service provision, and • use of multiple service providers. • Policy recognition of two access frameworks: • Equal Service Access Architecture, and • Bottlenecked Service Access Architecture. • Mass migration from dial-up access can be expected.

16. Broadband Access Issues - 2 • Standards need to be rationalized among access systems such as DSL, cable wireless, etc. • User lock-in is a common issue, due to proprietary and bundled systems. • No technical reason why all services (voice, data, video) cannot be supplied over a single physical medium, i.e. integrated services access. • Policy may be key to deployment of integrated services access and choice/competition.

17. Conclusions Need for: • Rationalization of protocol stacks for Broadband Access. • Recognition of unbundled access model(s).

18. Broadband Access: Cutting through the standards maze KGK Enterprises 1806 Lahey Court Kanata Ontario, K2W 1B2 Tel: +1 613 839 0404 E-mail: kgk@rogers.com

19. Discontinuous physical media Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Network Layer Network Layer Network Layer Network Layer Physical Layer Relay Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Peering/Interconnection Models (1) Network Node User Node End-to-End continuity Continuous physical medium Network Node User Node

20. Discontinuous physical media Data Link Layer Relay Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Data Link Layer Network Layer Relay Network Layer Network Layer Network Layer Network Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Physical Layer Peering/Interconnection Models (2) Network Node User Node Discontinuous Data Link Network Node User Node Discontinuous Network Layer Discontinuous physical media Discontinuous Data Link