DSL Forum spec for migrating DSL over ATM to DSL over ethernet

Stuart Corner
Sunday, 30 April 2006 18:58

Business IT - Technology

The DSL Forum has published a report defining the architecture to seamlessly migrate asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) legacy DSL aggregation networks to next generation ethernet-based networks.
Technical Report 101 (TR-101) also specifies the architecture to coordinate service rate management and multicast capability in an ethernet network without affecting existing services that are currently offered. "By leveraging TR-101, service providers can develop a multiservice end-to-end architecture to support offerings of new secure value-added consumer and business services such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)," the Forum claims.

It says that TR-101 is based on the already approved DSL Forum reports TR-058, TR-059 and TR-092 and "extends the quality of service (QoS) breakthroughs of TR-059, with capabilities defined for the Broadband network gateway and access nodes such as DSLAMs that have ethernet switching and other networking capabilities."

TR-101 defines the application of Layer 2 virtual private networks (L2VPNs) and multicast replication at the various nodes as well as its operations, administration and management.

Forum chairman, Michael Brusca, said: "This latest DSL Forum Technical Report is a significant strategic development that will empower the continued rollout of broadband services to the mass market, over a range of access technologies. The industry's adoption of TR-101 will expedite consumer availability of higher speed services that depend on enhanced internet access products that support high bit rate quality services such as IPTV."