Consortel: A CATV/TELCO solution, providing a fully digital fibre‐based broadband switched distribution network

Abstract

Telephone companies and cable operators have many needs in common. Both wish to increase revenues by adding new services. Both plan to convert to fibre optics in order to lower costs in installation, operations and maintenance. Each must provide basic services economically while replacing obsolete equipment and infrastructures. Each year, network operators devote a large portion of their revenues to the provision and maintenance of network‐based services and equipment. Lately, activities such as installing equipment at a customer site and detecting and repairing network problems have become an area of concern as organizations strive to minimize technological impacts and achieve operations savings. This paper is divided into three parts. First, the reader is provided with a description of the Consortel network architecture. This functional description is then completed by a description of the software applications that support network operations activities. Finally, economic considerations are examined in the implementation of this digital distribution network.