New Generation Digital
Loop Carrier
By
Hadi A.HMIDA – Ph.D
R&D,
Saudi Telecom, 2003
Scope
This document gives an overview of DLC and
NGDLC techniques and specifies the technical
requirements for their implementation according
to ITU–T Recommendations.
(ITU: International Telecommunication Union)
1. Introduction
The network is divided in three interoperable
sections or layers called Core, Edge, and
Access as depicted below in Fig. (1).
The Core network that comprises switches,
routers, and transport devices enables the
transport of transparent high-speed traffics
between core devices installed in different sites
in a city or country.
The Edge comprises switches and routers
enabling aggregation functionalities and delivery
of data flow between the core and access
networks.
The Access network resides between the
Central Office (CO) and the customer premises.
It includes passive (direct connection) and active
components such as Remote Access Node
(RAN), Digital Subscriber Line Multiplexer
(DSLAM), and Concentrators. The local Loop, a
part of the access network, comprises the
physical connection between the main
distribution frames (MDF) in the CO and the end
users premises. Digital Loop Carriers (DLC)
technology makes use of digital techniques
enabling delivery of narrowband services to the
users via copper pairs in the local loop. Since
ATM and IP packet switching and fiber optics are
widely implemented in the core network, the
need for supplying more bandwidth in the access
network grows more and more to provide
broadband services (i.e., xDSL, FE, BW) to the
customer. It drives fiber technology deeper into
the access network as well as the design of new
Generation DLC (NGDLC).
Dr. Hadi A. HMIDA Expert Access Technologies
This tutorial introduces the DLC principle and
it’s use in the access network. It also discusses
the new-generation DLC as an ATM/TDM/IP
traffic aggregator and as a broadband access
node that can be deployed at the CO or in a
remote site providing the end users with both
narrowband and broadband services. Finally
specifies technical requirements covering
aggregation and access node functionalities.
2. Digital Loop Carrier
The traditional DLC was designed for economy
of scale, in order to provide narrowband services
(i.e., POTS, ISDN) for a large number of
subscribers in the suburban area mainly outside
of the Carrier Serving Area (CSA) as depicted in
Fig.(2)
Core
Edge
CPEs
Core Edge Access
Metro Last
Fig.(1): Network Layers and Interoperability
In traditional DLC or Pair Gain device a fixed
number of subscribers connected to the RST
share two twisted copper pairs between LET and
RST.
Today the conventional deployment uses two
separate units for different services: DLC or
Remote Access Node for narrowband services
(POTS, ISDN, and special services), and a
DSLAM for broadband services (xDSL). More
recently, narrowband and broadband services
have been integrated in one platform NGDLC.
3. New-Generation Digital Loop Carrier
3.1. Basic Architecture
NGDLC is a multi-service and multi-function
solution designed to integrate narrowband and
broadband services in a unique platform suitable
1 Network R&D STC, 2003
for implementation in the local exchange or in
remote sites.
It provides the legacy DLC function with TDM
multiplexing and concentration capabilities
(POTS, ISDN, special services), DSLAM
functions (ADSL, ADSL Lite, SHDSL, VDSL),
and IP services. The platform has
ATM/IP/Ethernet and TDM traffic aggregation
capability. In addition to traditional telephony
techniques, the platform supports VoATM
(VoDSL or voice over AAL2) and VoIP (or voice
over AAL5) from a remote Integrated Access
Device (IAD) at the customer site. It should also
have the capability to be interfaced with the Next
Generation Networks (NGN) through access
gateways.
In addition to the subscriber and network
interfaces the system must include protected
Central Processing Units (CPU) for control
functionality and special cards for future
expansion (daisy chain).
Fig. (1) shows subscriber and network interfaces
supported by the NGDLC platform.
3.2 Central Processing Unit
CPU arbitrates the access to the Backplane bus.
There are usually 3 busses: In General a TDM
bus used for typical narrowband telephony
application, ATM cell bus, and SDH/GE bus for
transport.
3.3 Subscriber and Network Interfaces
Subscriber interfaces are standardized such as
POTS, ISDN, xDSL, Ethernet, E1/E3 IMA
(Inverse Multiplex for ATM), and STM-1.
IMA (Inverse Multiplex for ATM) allows the
transmission of stream of ATM cells over
multiple E1 facilities. It gives customer
granularity to rise up to E3 and then STM-1. It is
applicable to many different types of ATM
access network such as ATM switches,
concentrators, Multiplexers, traffic aggregators,
and routers. Typically it can be used either to
interconnect the DLC with wireless base
stations, RANs, and any remote access
multiplexers or as a high speed network-side
interface.
The IMA mechanism for sending a single ATM
stream consists of splitting ATM stream on
virtual circuits among multiple E1 links. In the
Dr. Hadi A. HMIDA Expert Access Technologies
receiver a cell based IMA framing process
reconstitutes the original stream.
The network interfaces encompass several
options TDM for the traditional PSTN services,
IMA E1/E3 and STM-1/4 for ATM/IP network and
Giga Ethernet for IP network.
3.4 Transport Media
The NGDLC must be designed to support
efficiently a variety of transport media: Copper,
Fiber and wireless.
The fiber multiplexer must be integrated into the
NGDLC. Once the fiber transceiver card is
inserted into any general service slot, it must be
linked directly to all service subscribers already
provisioned. Some cases require use of E1
copper over copper. The upgrade from copper to
fiber facilities require to replacing the copper
transceiver card with a fiber transceiver card.
Point-to-Point wireless media facilities must be
also integrated into the NGDLC platform.
3.5 Topologies
The NGDLC can be connected in a variety of
configurations: star, ring (ADM) or a combination
of the above, in tree and branch, and in mesh
configuration. Routing capability is then required.
It can be provisioned as a Local Exchange
Terminal (LET) or as a Remote Subscriber
Terminal (RST). LET and RT have the same
capabilities. It must be flexible and simply
configured for deployment as an access node
and/or access aggregator. See Fig.(4.2).
COT RT
(LET) (RST)
Copper Pairs
CSA
PSTN
Site 1
COT: Central Office Terminal
LET: Local Exchange Terminal
RST: Remote Subscribers Terminal
RT: Remote Terminal
Fig.(2) : Traditional DLC (Pair Gain) Configuration
2 Network R&D STC, 2003
 NMS

PSTN IMA E1, E3

NB SDH STM-1/4
Interface ADM
TDM SHDSL
NB-PS TDM DSLAM
Network Interface Fast Ethernet
TDM
ATM Ethernet
IMA E1/STM1-4 Interface Interface
ATM
Network GE IP POTS
Interface Interface

IP STM/GE V.5.1/2 Mang, Alarm IAD

SIP/MGCP GW Test Unit
Network

NGDLC
NGN

Fig. (3): NGDLC Functionalities

NGDLC
nxE1
STM-1/4
GE Dark Fiber
PSTN nxE1
NGDLC

NGDLC
NGDLC
NB-PS
Network STM-1/4/GE
Ring (Fiber) nxE1
STM-1
NGDLC
ATM NGDLC
Network

NGDLC

IP
Network nxE1
STM-1/4
GE Dark Fiber STM-1
Local Exchange NGDLC NGDLC

Fig. (4): Topologies

Dr. Hadi A. HMIDA Expert Access Technologies 3 Network R&D STC, 2003