White Paper

RAPID
Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

Voice telephony is still the major revenue generator for many service providers. Rural access for POTS, ISDN and data (RAPID) proves to be effective and cost efcient in scarcely populated regions, and is therefore complementary to other rural access technologies such as xed wireless access, xed cellular, satellite and new wireless access technologies, such as WiFi and WiMAX. It allows service providers to maximize revenues, and at the same time control costs of network deployment, while increasing teledensity in rural areas. Its compactness enables fast deployment that allows service providers to offer services and ensure minimized payback time in rural areas with low average revenue per user. In addition to voice communications, RAPID also supports data and Ethernet access, hence helping to bridge the digital divide by increasing the availability of access to communication resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ......................................1

Overview of Connectivity Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 V5.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Subscriber Emulation-Based CAS Signaling ...................3

Mirror-Based Solution for Combined Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 About RAPID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Outdoor Cabinet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Remote Multiplexer ...................................4

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Network Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Conclusion .......................................6

Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

RAPID: Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

Introduction
Bringing telecommunications facilities and services to scarcely populated areas has always been a costly and tiresome exercise for public network operators. In many cases, the required capital expenditure (CAPEX) to reach and connect remote areas and to provide sufcient protection for installed equipment against weather conditions and intrusions does not guarantee a sufcient return on investment (ROI). However, as broadband connectivity becomes ubiquitous in metropolitan and urban areas, rural residents are becoming less willing to accept the digital divide. They expect the same access to services and quality of services as those enjoyed in more densely populated areas. As a result, every public operator must provide connectivity upon request, and the ability to do so is becoming a competitive necessity. To ease the network operators task of helping rural communities bridge the digital divide, Alcatel has developed the Rural Access for POTS, ISDN and Data (RAPID) solution, based primarily on the Alcatel 1511 2 Mb/s Multiservice Business Access Multiplexer (BA). The RAPID solution supports a range of services appropriate for rural communities: > POTS > ISDN > Low speed data (asynchronous) up to 64 kb/s > High speed data at N x 64 kb/s (N = 1 to 31) > Ethernet at N x 64 kb/s (N = 1 to 31) With the following characteristics, RAPID is designed to address the specic requirements of operators providing solutions in rural areas: > Flexible enough to address very small congurations (up to 30 64 kb/s payload channels) > E1-based, with optionally a built-in single-line highbit-rate digital subscriber line (SHDSL) transmission booster or an optical E2 > Available as an indoor unit, or a robust pole or mastmounted outdoor cabinet > Single phase AC fed with a built-in battery back-up of eight hours > Separate equipment and distribution bay > Low cost solution resulting in fast ROI > Local and remote management capabilities > Plug-and-play concept making use of pre-cabled, pre-programmed standard models > Does not require changes to the existing installed base (i.e., the exchange) > Operates under extreme climate conditions

Figure 1 - RAPID Installation in Africa

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RAPID: Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

Figure 2 - RAPID Deployed in Telecom Infrastructure Data (LAN) 1511 BA Data ISDN S POTS RAPID Optical Fiber Fax

Data 1511 BA E1s Copper SHDSL ISDN S POTS 1515 CX-C Co-located Data Network 1511 BA Wave Fax

RAPID

Data (LAN) 1511 BA

Fax

POTS

ISDN S

Data

RAPID

Village Phone

As depicted in Figure 2, the RAPID solution can be deployed alongside operators synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)/dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and microwave or GSM tower infrastructures as well as the infrastructures of power utilities, or railway corporations, for example. This enables operators to leverage the existing infrastructure of other organizations. At an operator central ofce site, the solution connects via different options to an existing local exchange.

V5.2
One V5.2 interface from the exchange is sent to a converter. The converter provides the necessary signaling information towards the multiplexer. Up to 24 multiplexers then provide connectivity for up to 720 subscribers. This setup guarantees a more than decent 0.12 Erlang (the number of call seconds per hour) per subscriber.

Figure 3 - V5.2 Connectivity Option

Overview of Connectivity Options

This section describes network scenarios in which the Alcatel RAPID solution is used as an access medium to the subscriber. Three connectivity options are available: > V5.2 connection at the exchange > V5.1-based subscriber emulation > Mirror-based solution for combined services

1511 BA V5.2 Interface (4 E1) 30 Subscribers 24 E1s with CAS Exchange V5.2 to CAS Converter RAPID (1) 1511 BA

30 Subscribers

RAPID (24)

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RAPID: Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

The major strengths of the V5.2 connectivity option are: > V5.2 is an open interface that can be connected to any digital exchange > No upgrades are required to existing exchange equipment > Only limited investment is required at the exchange end (addition of a converter box, which can serve up to 24 remote sites) This solution is most economical for a volume of 400 subscribers or more, connected to a single exchange.

MIRROR-BASED SOLUTION FOR COMBINED SERVICES

When transporting different services (i.e., services with specic signaling requirements), network operators cannot make use of a standardized signaling protocol like V5.2, which allows them to connect a hybrid trunk directly to an exchange. To overcome this inconvenience and enable multiple services for rural users, an additional building block is introduced into the network topology. A small cross-connect (Alcatel 1515 Compact 1-0 Digital CrossConnect [CX-C]) acts as a groomer between the exchange, the data network and the RAPIDs in the network. As inputs, the cross-connect can receive: > E1s carrying up to 30 POTS channels > Full E1s carrying 64 kb/s data channels > Single basic access lines (a,b wired) in a mirror conguration with the switch At the output side, each RAPID is connected to the cross-connect by an E1. The network will use proprietary signaling because this E1 contains a mix of POTS, basic rate access (BRA) and data channels. With this setup, the operator can serve up to 480 user channels. In theory, 16 RAPIDs can be connected to one cross-connect, if each RAPID is equipped to its maximum. In practice, with an average lling of 75 percent, up to 20 RAPIDs can be connected to a single cross-connect. The typical equivalents are as follows: > POTS: 1 user channel per subscriber > BRA: 3 user channels per basic access subscriber > Data: 1 user channel per 64 kb/s connection

SUBSCRIBER EMULATION-BASED CAS SIGNALING

This connectivity option is appropriate when network operators want to provide only voice services. In this scenario, the RAPID is connected directly to the exchange via a 2 Mb/s link. The protocol will be a channel associated signaling (CAS) signal with subscriber emulation embedded in the exchange. This option has two signicant characteristics: > Line signaling is based on the CAS protocol (recommendation Q.421) > Subscriber processing (providing dial tone, reception of digits, etc.) is done in the exchange Up to 30 POTS lines can be installed per RAPID polemounted cabinet. An indoor subrack can house 90 subscribers. A fully equipped, standard 19 inch rack totals 450 subscribers. Advantages of the subscriber emulation connectivity option include: > No investment is needed at the exchange > It is extremely well suited for a low volume of subscribers (less than 50) added to a single exchange This solution is, however, proprietary and supported by only a limited number of exchanges.

Figure 5 - Mixed POTS and Data Connectivity Option

1511 BA E1

Figure 4 - Subscriber Emulation-Based Connectivity Option

Data Network

1/0 Cross-connect

RAPID

VAM

1511 BA E1 CAS

Exchange

RAPID

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RAPID: Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

About RAPID
The building blocks of the RAPID are: > An outdoor cabinet > A power supply > Alcatel 1511 BA > A main distribution frame

Figure 6 - The Outdoor Cabinet

OUTDOOR CABINET
The outdoor cabinet contains all the necessary building blocks to serve the rural subscriber (see Figure 6). Air inlets at the top and bottom of the cabinet allow outside air to cool the inner wall in a free circulating manner. In tropical environments, a fan can be installed to circulate air within the equipment bay and guarantee an equal spread of generated heat. All cables are fed into the outdoor cabinet from the bottom. The cabinets internal structure consists of the equipment area, the power supply and the distribution frame (see Figure 7). A door contact and a temperature sensor can be read by the management card. This alarm can be sent to a remote monitoring center.

Features > Dimensions: 350 x 810 x 400 (wxhxd) > Weight: approx. 20 kg (fully equipped) > Protected against dust and water penetration (IP 55) > Operates on single phase 240 VAC > Corrugated steel > Equipment bay separate from distribution bay > Two universal clamps to fit any type of pole > Safety locks > Outer and inner cabinet structure for optimal cooling > Fan driven cooling (optional) > Cable throughput by means of swivels > Door contact and temperature sensor for remote monitoring > Fully pre-wired > On site activities limited to power and subscriber conditions

Figure 7 - Internal Layout of the Outdoor Cabinet

REMOTE MULTIPLEXER
The Alcatel 1511BA functions as the remote multiplexer in the RAPID solution. It is a nine-slot multiplexer that is only 24 cm wide. The nine slots are lled with: > 1 controller > 1 network management interface board for local and remote management > 1 DC/DC converter with ringing generator capacity (redundancy is possible) > 6 universal positions to be used for tributary or transport boards

APPLICATIONS
The six free slots are used to install tributaries that support various applications. The three applications described below are most relevant for rural users and have, therefore, been selected for RAPID. POTS: Analog POTS subscribers can be directly connected via a/b wires to one or more subscriber interface boards. The granularity can be either ve or ten circuits per board. All commonly used impedances are available, covering line distances from 1 km up to 12 km. Further 12 and 16 KHz metering, reverse battery and country-dependant ringing are supported.

> Two safety locks to secure the equipment bay > can be made customer-dependent (standard key) > Power cabling block for termination of all power cables, such as > equipment > batteries > rectifier > 240VAC > Low voltage disconnect > DC fuses > Equipment area containing a T9 subrack that houses the controllers and the tributary boards that interface to subscribers > Fan unit for even heat distribution > Power compartment housing a 48 Vbackup battery and a 120 W AC/DC rectifier > Distribution area is separate from the equipment area

Figure 8 - Basic Conguration with DC Feeding

6 PCMC2 Bis
e o c e o c
2 1

RGPA

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RAPID: Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

ISDN: ISDN subscribers can be directly connected via a/b wires to one or more ISDN-BA U-interface boards. The interface board consists of ve ISDN BRA lines. The interface uses the Uk0 Basic Access 2B+D format with 2B1Q line coding. This interface requires a mirror solution with line terminator (LT) boards at the exchange side and network terminator (NT) boards at the RAPID end. Local or remote data: Instead of using direct data connections, the RAPID solution uses a modem combination, in which the U6VAM tributary acts as a DCE while the versatile access modem (VAM) acts as a DTE. This application covers a distance of up to 8 km, supports 128 kb/s or 2 x 64 kb/s X.21/V.35 and uses the outside plant wiring that is already available. Several other applications can also be deployed using RAPID, but they are not top candidates for a rural solution and are only listed here for completeness. These applications include: > Low speed asynchronous data up to 64 kb/s, only for local use > 15 kHz audio (with or without E&M) > Hotline facility > 30-party conference bridge > Local battery connection > N x 64 kb/s (N = up to 30) > ISDN So interface > Ethernet N x 64 kb/s (N = up to 30)

NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Full remote monitoring and control is essential for a rural solution, where equipment will be installed in distant areas to which access can be limited due to road conditions or seasonal disturbances. The RAPID solution incorporates three building blocks for remote management: > Element manager: local craft terminal with the Alcatel 1320 NX (NECTAS) software package > Network operations center: Alcatel 1322 VD Mediation Device with the 1321 NX (NOCTAS) software package > Network manager: Alcatel 1353 AC Figure 9 shows the virtual position of each of these building blocks and the respective signals that are being sent. Together, these network management components provide all the features that are expected from a stateof-the-art management platform. Depending on requirements, an operator can choose: > An element manager for local maintenance > Network operations managers to maintain and monitor a limited number of RAPIDs (i.e., connected to the same exchange) > A network management platform that controls and manages the entire network

Figure 9 - Network Management Overview

Q3 (X.25/Ethernet) DCN Network OS: 1353 AC RS-232 1322 VD 1321 NX Operation Craft Terminal (OCT) RS-232 1511 BA (R)Q2 (R)Q2

Q3 (X.25/Ethernet)

RS-232 RAPID 1515 CXC-C

1320 NX Element Craft Terminal (ECT)

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RAPID: Enabling Access for Rural Communities with the Alcatel 1511 BA

Conclusion
The RAPID solution from Alcatel enables network operators to address the burgeoning rural community and remain competitive by bringing premium services to scarcely populated areas. Rural residents can enjoy not only traditional POTS service, but ISDN basic access and low-speed data over a single 2 Mb/s link. RAPID is easy to install and robust once in place. It is fed from the commercial power grid with a back-up battery, allowing easy implementation even in areas where power outages are frequent. Its robust mechanical design protects against vandalism, theft and animal attacks. The IP-55 value of the equipment bay prevents damage from water, insects and dust. The Alcatel 1511 BA itself has a proven track record in very harsh environments worldwide. It has been deployed in pipeline, metro and railway projects, both indoors and outdoors. Implementing RAPID does not require a highly skilled workforce. Operators can take advantage of a comprehensive network management system to control, monitor and recongure the network from a central network operations center. This results in a plug and play operational mode that does not require specialized skills from people in the eld. Ultimately, RAPID provides the ideal answer for connecting rural areas to the rest of the world and allowing the local population to enter into and enjoy the benets of the 21st century.

ABBREVIATIONS
BRA CAPEX CAS DWDM ECT IP 55 ISDN LT NT OCT OS POTS RAPID SDH SHDSL VAM basic rate access (for ISDN) capital expenditures channel associated signaling dense wavelength division multiplexing equipment craft terminal Indication of degree of protection against dust and humidity integrated services digital network line termination network termination ofce craft terminal operating system plain old telephone system/service rural access for POTS, ISDN and data synchronous digital hierarchy single-line high-bit-rate digital subscriber line versatile access modem

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Alcatel and the Alcatel logo are registered trademarks of Alcatel. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Alcatel assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented, which is subject to change without notice. 12 2005 Alcatel. All rights reserved. 3CL 00469 0977 TQZZA Ed.01 19829