Appendix 1: A Primer on Basic Concepts underlying Broadband Services

Introduction

The notes below outline some of the basic concepts that Owners Corporation executives committees and lot owners are likely to come across when considering the provision of broadband services to their buildings. The explanations are as “plain English” as possible, but of course there’s a lot of complex technology involved in broadband so some technical terminology is unavoidable.

Basic Concepts

Broadband Services

Broadband Services are thosemade available via a high capacity network that is capable of handlingmultiple signals and traffic types (voice, data, video etc.) simultaneously. Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times but a key characteristic is “always on” high-speed Internet access. In the current Australian context broadband probably could be considered as any service offering a reliably available minimum speed of 25 to 50 Mbps both “downstream” (to the user premises) and “upstream” (from the user premises). Some people would argue that 100 Mbps is the minimum for “true” broadband. Broadband services can be provided either via wired networks (e.g. fibre, HFC) or wirelessly (mobile, satellite).

Digital Subscriber Line: ADSL & VDSL

Digital Subscriber Line is a family of technologiesthat uses existing copper telephones line to deliver high-speed Internet access. They also allow voice communication and high-speed data transmission on the same line at the same time.
  • Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL2+) is commonly used by Internet Service Providers today throughout Australia. In ideal situations it can provide data rates as high as 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) “downstream” (to the customer premises) and 1Mbps “upstream” (from the customer premises). However the actual speed is dependent on the quality of the copper line and distance from the user premises to the telephone exchange.
  • Very High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) is a newer and more advanced DSL standard. The latest version, VDSL2, can provide ADSL-like data speeds more reliably and over greater distances. Over shorter distances (a few hundred metres) VDSL2 supports speeds up to 200 Mbps downstream and upstream using a technology called Vectoring. This works like noise-cancelling technology inheadphones to cut out interference (“noise”) on a bundle of VDSL2 lines. Some Internet Service Providers aiming to offer FTTB high-speed Internet services to multi-dwelling units are planning to use VDSL2 for the Last Mile.

Ethernet

A common method of networking computers in one locationusing a variety of cabling. While traditionally a commercial infrastructureEthernet offers flexibility and substantial bandwidth making it also suitable for a wide range of consumer-oriented data and multimedia services. Some niche Australian Internet Service Providers already offer broadband services using Ethernet for the Last Mile to business users and may look to enter the multi-dwelling residential market using the same technology.

Fibre to the……….

“Fibre to the….…” is a generic term for any broadband network using optical fibre. Typically fibre will be used for the “backbone” (trunk or main) sections of the network but in some configurations fibre is combined with other network infrastructure to complete the Last Mile connection to individual user premises.

FTTB: Fibre to the Basement

Fibre is extended to the boundary of a building, such as the basement in a multi-dwelling unit. The Last Mile is provided by alternate means, usually existing in-building wiring.

FTTC: Fibre to the Cabinet (also known as FTTN: Fibre to the Node)

Fibre is terminated in a street cabinet, typically within a few hundred metres of user premises. The Last Mile is provided by copper wire already used for existing telephone and Internet services. The recent strategic review recommended that NBNCo. use FTTC where feasible as it has the potential to reduce construction cost / complexity and speed deployment.

FTTP: Fibre to the Premises

The fibre network extends all the way to individual homes and businesses, using fibre for the Last Mile. Under the original NBN plan FTTP would have been the standard technical solution to provide broadband services to all residential and business users, except in remote and rural areas where satellite be used.

HFC: Hybrid Fibre Coaxial Cable

A broadband network combing optical fibre “backbone” with coaxial cable for the Last Mile. Telstra and Optus spent billions of dollars layingHFC cable during the late 1990s in high-density urban areas to deliver their new Pay TV services. The recent strategic review recommended that NBN use HFC cable where available for broadband services to accelerate rollout and to make use of this relatively new infrastructure.

In-Building Wiring

Infrastructure used within a multi-dwelling unit to connect individual units to external telecommunications and Internet services. Typically this will be copper wires but in some mixed residential / commercial buildings in-building wiring may also include Ethernet cabling.

Last Mile

The final link in a telecommunication network used to connect to individual user premises. The Last Mile could literally be many kilometres, for example when using a mobile broadband service,but also cold be as little as a few metres, for example in a FTTP network.

NBN: National Broadband Network

As originally announced in 2009 the NBN was a plan to build a brand new wholesale-only, open-access network to deliver high-speed broadband and telephony services. The NBN was to be built bya government enterprise, NBN Co. In December 2013 the new federal government confirmed its intention to instead implement a “multi-technology” approach to the NBN, using a mix of FTTP, FTTN, HFC cable and satellite for the Last Mile.

More Information

There is a wealth of material available on the Internet providing additional and technical information on broadband services as well as the NBN.

A good place to start is the website of NBN Co., nbnco.com.au, providing information on progress with the NBN. This site also includes an extensive glossary of technical terms, You can also download the full text of the recently completed Strategic Review of the NBN, as well as the Government’s response to that Review, see