Ethernet in the First Mile:

802.3ah

James Richard
Network Performance and Design
April 2nd 2008
Professor Paul Zam
Introduction: 802.3ah – Ethernet in the First Mile

Ethernet in the first mile (EFM) 802.3ah is a recent standard ratified by the IEEE
in 2004. The standard allows Ethernet to be used as a connection between a carrier or
service providers core Ethernet network (often referred as a Metro Ethernet Network) and
a customer’s Ethernet network over either copper pairs or single mode fiber optics. This
consistency of Ethernet between the service provider core and the customer network
reduces overhead, increasing performance and providing a more consistent connection to
the user.

The 802.3ah standard covers delivering Ethernet via a number of different mediums
including:

• Point to Point Fiber Optics: The EFM standard outlines using single mode fiber to
deliver up to a gigabit of bandwidth at up to 10km. This standard removes the
overhead of traditional ATM/SONET based fiber optic connections, allowing a
customer to receive a higher level of service.

• Point to Multipoint Fiber Optics (EPON): An Ethernet based passive optical

network or EPON is designed for efficient delivery of residential triple play
services at distances of up to 20km. A passive optical network does not place any
active networking gear (switches, repeaters, etc) in the field. This allows a PON
based network to be deployed quickly and serve a large number of users over a
large geographical area. Verizon is an active proponent of PON based networks,
deploying their FiOS service in many markets across the country to replace their
copper network. Due to the lack of active equipment in the field EPON is a shared
medium, much like a traditional copper CSMA/CD Ethernet network.
Traditionally passive optical networks are built using ATM based technologies
such as BPON (Broadband Passive Optical Network) and GPON (Gigabit Passive
Optical Network). By delivering Ethernet directly to the user the overhead of
encapsulating Ethernet in ATM cells is removed, providing increased
performance.

• Point to Point Copper: The 802.3ah standard defines two methods of delivering
Ethernet via standard voice-grade copper wiring which is already in place today.
These two methods are 2BASE-TL and 10PASS-TS. These methods are
developed to allow Ethernet to be delivered directly to customers via standard
copper pairs at a variety of distances. The standard also allows for low-level pair
bonding so that multiple pairs can be used to deliver increased bandwidth to the
premise. With today’s rapid expansion of broadband into every facet of life
worldwide, delivering high-speed access without deploying expensive fiber optics
has become key, 802.3ah allows for this.

The uses of EFM over existing copper infrastructure are very significant for both
service providers and business today. The ability to purchase high-bandwidth
symmetrical Ethernet access without the deployment of fiber optics means reduced cost
and increased efficiency for a business. This paper will cover the details of EFM over
copper and the 10PASS-TS and 2BASE-TL standards. Along with the details of the
standard, several non-traditional uses of the technology will be covered including Mobile
3G and Remote DSLAM backhaul.

What is 2BASE-TL and 10PASS-TS?

The two varieties EFM over copper are 2BASE-TL and 10PASS-TS. These two
varieties are designed to deliver two very different levels of service over different
distances.

Figure 1: EFM Reach Comparison: 10PASS-TS vs 2BASE-TL (Provided by

Hatteras Networks)
10PASS-TS

10PASS-TS is designed for residential triple play delivery. This variety of EFM
is based on a VDSL-DMT (Very-High Speed DSL, Discrete Mutli-Tone) physical layer
allowing for 100mbit asymmetrical and 50mbit symmetrical at over a single pair at short
distances of less than 1500m (5kft). 10PASS-TS is designed for residential triple play
delivery (Voice, Data, and TV) in a FTTN (Fiber to the Node) or MDU deployment
where the 10PASS-TS switching equipment is placed very close to the user. 10PASS-TS
is a pass band technology, much like traditional ADSL and VDSL products, this means
that data can be passed on the line along with traditional POTS service through the use of
filters. 10PASS-TS also can support low level multi-pair bonding for high speed links.
While 10PASS-TS has a large amount of potential for residential delivery of triple play
services, it does not have a place in delivery of internet for businesses. This is where
2BASE-TL comes into play.

2BASE-TL

2BASE-TL is designed for delivery of high-speed symmetrical Ethernet access to

businesses and other high demand users such as educational institutions and government.
2BASE-TL is based on an Enhanced SHDSL (e.SHDSL) physical layer which is an
enhanced version of SHDSL which is common in the delivery of T1/E1 service. 2BASE-
TL is able to provide 5.7mbit over short (<2.5kft) loops and 2mbit over long (>12.5kft)
loops. Also, true physical pair bonding is supported allowing for up to 32 copper pairs
(Most CPEs support bonding of 8 pairs) to function as one physical Ethernet link, without
increased overhead.
With 2BASE-TL a single copper pair is able to deliver a guaranteed 5mbit link on
a short loop. Two copper pairs will allow a provider to offer true 10mbit Ethernet
service without running fiber optic cabling. By increasing the number of pairs in the
2BASE-TL bundle to eight the overall bandwidth can be increased to a peak of 45mbit.
This flexibility in configurations allows a provider to fill the hole between low speed T1
services at 1.5mbit and fiber delivered T3 services at 45mbit. This allows a large variety
of symmetrical bandwidth packages to be offered to a customer at a low cost.

2BASE-TL Physical Layer: e.SHDSL vs ADSL2+

The e.SHDSL used in 2BASE-TL technology was chosen for its spectral
efficiency and ability to overcome the large amounts of interference and crosstalk that are
present in telephone network trunks delivering service to businesses. Traditionally
businesses subscribe to many copper delivered services including T1s and other SDSL
based services. Designers of the 2BASE-TL standard chose to use e.SHDSL over other
standards such as ADSL2+ due to the fact that e.SHDSL has a better resiliency against
interference from such services. When comparing the two, e.SHDSL is able to provide a
much higher level of performance than ADSL2+ at similar loop lengths. Figure 2
displays that at 4000m (13kft) e.SHDSL is able to deliver a 1mbit link while ADSL2+ is
struggling to maintain sync with the DSLAM, resulting in a very low speed link.

Figure 2: Comparison of e.SHDSL vs ADSL2+ (Provided by Hatteras Networks)

The resiliency provided by the e.SHDSL physical layer allows 2BASE-TL to provide
reliable service even in situations where traditional ADSL/ADSL2+ based products
would not work. This greatly expands the ability of a 2BASE-TL service to those who
could not traditionally be served.

2BASE-TL Loop Aggregation

One of the greatest benefits of 2BASE-TL is the built in physical layer support for
the bonding of multiple copper pairs to create a single Ethernet connection. By bonding
pairs the available bandwidth is greatly increased. The pair bonding method used in
2BASE-TL is loop aggregation that occurs below the MAC layer, breaking Ethernet
frames into small fragments and tagging them with a Fragment Header (FH). These
tagged fragments are then distributed across all loops in the aggregate bundle. Once the
fragments arrive at the other end of the link they are reassembled using the data present in
the Fragment Header and placed onto the subscribers Ethernet network.

Figure 3: How 2BASE-TL Loop Aggregation is Performed (Provided by Hatteras

Networks)

The benefits of this loop aggregation method are great when compared to other
methods such as ATM based Inverse Multiplexing (IMA). With IMA the Ethernet
frames are encapsulated into ATM cells that are distributed down available links in a
round-robin fashion. This, of course, adds the overhead of encapsulating all frames in
ATM cells and generating ATM virtual circuits. IMA also will only utilize the
bandwidth of the slowest speed link in the bundle. This means if a company orders 4
DSL circuits which end up syncing at 1, 2, 3, and 4 megabits and bond them together
using IMA, they only receive an aggregate bandwidth of 4 megabits, before overhead
since they slowest speed link acts as a bottleneck. This is not the case with 2BASE-TL
aggregation; the full bandwidth of all links is available to be used. In the example above
the four links would be bound together into a ten-megabit aggregate circuit. This is
incredibly important since multiple loops between the same point can sync at different
speeds depending on interference, line quality, and total loop length.
2BASE-TL loop bonding is also very resilient to the loss of circuits in the bundle.
An individual 2BASE-TL loop can be removed or added to the bundle without affecting
the state of the connection. This means that one or more links in the 2BASE-TL bundle
can fail without any noticeable affect on the customer, VoIP connections do not drop,
video streams continue playing. The only noticeable affect is a reduction of available
bandwidth on the link. This is very important in business connectivity where a reliable
and stable connection is imperative.

2BASE-TL Repeaters

Much like SHDSL based T1/E1 circuits e.SHDSL based 2BASE-TL circuits can
be repeated to push service at distances as far as 25 miles from the serving office via an
eight repeater chain. Many providers of EFM hardware offer e.SHDSL repeaters which
work as drop in replacements for T1 span repeaters. This means that the costs of
upgrading an T1/E1 circuit to a much higher speed EFM circuit are minimal, only the
cost of the hardware. This is an important benefit, since many businesses located in rural
areas rely on T1 circuits since they are the only connectivity available. Some of these
circuits run through several repeaters before reaching the demarcation point at the
business. By adding the ability to repeat e.SHDSL circuits many who are out of range of
traditional broadband connections, especially fiber optics and DSL, can receive high
quality Ethernet based service.

Copper? Why Not Fiber?

Many ask why someone would subscribe to a Metro-Ethernet service delivered

via copper when there are so many viable options delivered via fiber optics. For some,
mainly those in large metropolitan areas, fiber optics are the right choice, the client’s
building is often already lit by a major provider who can turn up service in a matter of
days at a low cost. But for a large majority their buildings are not lit and the costs of
running fiber to the building would be very expensive. This is where EFM via 2BASE-
TL comes into play.
2BASE-TL is designed to fill the hole between traditional T1/SDSL based service
and fiber optic delivered service such as a DS3. Compared to several years ago
businesses are using a much larger amount of bandwidth. The T1 is no longer the defacto
standard for Internet access as 1.54 mbit is no longer able to meet the needs of businesses
for real-time applications such as VoIP and video. While a company can bundle multiple
T1s for increased capacity, the monthly reoccurring costs become very large very
quickly. Of course a company can upgrade to a DS3 circuit, but the costs of running
fiber are very high for those where fiber is not already available. Of course Cable and
ADSL delivered products are an option, but they are often asymmetrical and do not have
the same SLAs and uptime guarantees as a T1/DS3 circuit.
2BASE-TL allows a service provider to offer a variety of different bandwidth and
service options using the same copper wiring which they are familiar with. At moderate
loop lengths a ten-megabit circuit can be delivered over two copper pairs. This flexibility
is what makes EFM delivered via copper such a great option for service providers and
businesses.
Reduce Overhead, Increase Performance.

One of the most important features of 2BASE-TL and Ethernet in the first mile is
the reduction of overhead in comparison to other connection methods. Traditionally
ADSL, T1, and many other Telco provided Internet access solutions use Ethernet frames
encapsulated in ATM cells for transport over the Telco network. It is also common for
additional layers of encapsulation such as PPPoE and PPPoA to increase the overhead on
these links. This overhead can lead to a 20-50% inefficiency when carrying Ethernet
traffic, greatly reducing the throughput available to the user. Figure 4 below outlines the
specific differences between Ethernet traffic delivered over a standard ATM based DSL
link versus Ethernet traffic delivered over EFM.

Figure 4: Ethernet via ATM versus EFM (Provided by Hatteras Networks)

Since Ethernet is used end-to-end, from the provider’s core data network to the
premise network overhead is greatly reduced. An EFM network is also significantly
cheaper to run in comparison to those based on ATM or other standards. Also, a full
suite of standardized Ethernet based Quality of Service (QoS) and Class of Service (CoS)
tools is available when using EFM. This means that the same QoS options that are
available at the provider’s core network are now available right out to the demarcation
point at the user premise. This extension of QoS/CoS allows the provider to offer much
higher quality service than that delivered over alternative standards.
Along with QoS/CoS all Ethernet based services such as VLANs are available
end-to-end across the network. This means that a provider can offer standards based
VLANs and segmentation of data across the same Ethernet link, which might offer
extreme value to specific clients especially those who use EFM services to link between
buildings/offices in the same area.
Specific Uses of 2BASE-TL/EFM

While replacement of existing T1s circuits is a very compelling use for 2BASE-
TL there are several applications that have the ability to change how data is delivered
today. Traditionally connectivity to 3G/WiMAX base stations and remote DSLAMs for
rural broadband deployment have been done via fiber or T1 lines. In remote areas fiber
often is not available due to high costs and T1s do not have the ability to provide the
large amounts of bandwidth that is required for these two applications.

3G/WiMAX Base Station Backhaul

Traditionally cellular base stations have been backhauled to a central point via
one or multiple T1 lines. This was fine until recently since cellular phone calls and text
messages were a very low bandwidth activity. Cellular phone calls use approximately
9.5kbit per second and 2G Mobile data standards such as GPRS, EDGE, and 1XRTT
allowed for peak data rates of only a couple hundred kilobits per second. But as customer
demand for 3G/4G high-speed mobile broadband services such as EV-DO, HSPA, and
WiMAX increases so do the bandwidth requirements at the base station. Figure 5
outlines the theoretical speeds of the three most popular mobile broadband technologies
today.

Technology Downstream (to User) Upstream (from User)

EV-DO Rev A 1.0 - 3.2 mbit/sec .3-1.8 mbit/sec
HSPA 1.0 – 21.0 mbit/sec .3 – 11.5 mbit/sec
WiMAX 1.0 – 16.0 mbit/sec .5 – 15.4 mbit/sec
Figure 5: Theoretical Speeds of Mobile Broadband Technologies

As smart phone and mobile broadband users increase the wireless carriers will
continue to strain to find the bandwidth required to backhaul their base stations. While
fiber optic solutions are an option many mobile base stations are located in remote areas
or on the roofs of buildings, far from existing fiber optic infrastructure. While
microwave backhaul has been an effective option for many carriers; terrain and other
issues can block or interfere with the signal, creating an unreliable connection.
2BASE-TL is an excellent solution to provide a large amount of backhaul
capacity using the infrastructure that is already in place. Currently most wireless base
stations or cell sites have several T1 lines running to them one or two pairs of voice grade
copper per T1. Sometimes these T1 lines have one or more repeaters on the span to allow
for long distance links. A 2BASE-TL implementation will allow a carrier to dramatically
increase the available bandwidth at their base stations with little outlay for fiber optics,
microwave links, or new copper wiring since the required wiring is in place. Only the
central office equipment, CPE devices, and repeaters on the span need to be replaced to
provide service. This means that the costs of upgrading to 2BASE-TL are quite low in
comparison to other options.
 Finally, since most mobile base station equipment is interfaced via Ethernet the
addition of 2BASE-TL will allow communication with core equipment without additional
encapsulation or overhead. This is a great benefit for mobile carriers who are looking to
squeeze the most out of each circuit.

Remote DSLAM Backhaul

Figure 6: 2BASE-TL for Remote DSLAM Backhaul (Provided by Actelis Networks)

It is common for phone companies and other DSL providers to backhaul their
remote DSLAMs with either fiber optics or multiple T1 connections. As consumer
demand for broadband connections expands, T1 lines are not able to cope with the
demand. In the past the provider would have had one option, run fiber to the remote
DSLAM in order to provide the required bandwidth. Now with 2BASE-TL the provider
can replace existing T1 lines with high speed Ethernet. Multiple 2BASE-TL links
aggregated can provide up to 45mbit via repeaters at up to 25 miles, perfect for serving
even the most remote DSLAMs in rural areas. With the ability to provide carrier grade
bandwidth over long distances 2BASE-TL will allow for broadband deployment in areas
where it was once thought impossible without fiber optics.

Conclusion

802.3ah EFM provides many benefits to the service provider and customer. The
flexibility of the EFM standard for use over both copper and fiber allows providers to
deliver carrier grade Ethernet connectivity over both mediums and a wide service area.
2BASE-TL and 10PASS-TS allow for existing copper wiring to deliver near fiber optic
speeds without the costs of deploying traditional fiber optic connectivity or the overhead
of ATM and other encapsulation protocols. By utilizing these standards the service
provider can bridge the gap between T1 and T3 and provide a fast, reliable, Internet
connection to the user. The ubiquity of Ethernet from the core to the user allows for all
Ethernet functions to be available, including QoS, CoS, and VLANs. Overall, EFM is an
innovative technology that will hopefully gain greater adoption over the next few years
allowing for cheap connectivity high bandwidth Ethernet based connectivity for all.
 Works Cited

"Actelis Networks: Mobile Backhaul." Actelis Networks. 2 Apr. 2009

<http://www.actelis.com/solutions/sol-mobilebh.php>.

"Actelis Networks: Remote DSLAM Backhaul." Actelis Networks. 2 Apr. 2009

<http://www.actelis.com/solutions/dslam-backhaul.php>.

Beck, Michael. Ethernet in the First Mile: The IEE 802.3ah EFM Standard. New York:

McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Emmerson, Bob. Mid-Band Ethernet Access & Services: The Business Case. Tech. 2

Apr. 2009 <http://www.electric-words.org/whitepapers/whpa-

hatteras_midband_ethernet.pdf>.

Gubbins, Ed. "802.3ah-ha!" Telephony Online 31 Jan. 2005. 2 Apr. 2009

<http://telephonyonline.com/mag/telecom_ahha/>.

"Hatteras Networks HN4000 Product Information." Hatteras Networks. 2 Apr. 2009

<http://www.hatterasnetworks.com/default.aspx?pagename=HN4000>.

Sekar, Richard. "Ethernet in the First Mile reuses copper." NetworkWorld 25 Nov. 2002.

2 Apr. 2009 <http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/2002/1125techupdate.html>.

Squire, Matt. IEEE 802.3ah 2BASE-TL for Executives: Metro Ethernet Copper Access

Handbook. Rep. 2005. Hatteras Networks, Inc. 2 Apr. 2009

<http://www.opticalkeyhole.com/keyhole/html/WP/hatteraswp.pdf>.

"Ethernet in the First Mile." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 18 Mar 2009, 14:36

UTC. 3 Apr 2009

<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethernet_in_the_First_Mile&oldid=27811092

0>.
"2BASE-TL." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 31 Jan 2009, 16:35 UTC. 3 Apr 2009

<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2BASE-TL&oldid=267646279>.