Skip to main content

Exploitation of an ATM Technology Testbed for Broadband Experiments and Applications

Objective

This project is raising the awareness of potential customers to the benefits obtainable from broadband communications. This is being achieved through the provision of an ATM test-bed with a capability for interconnection with other broadband islands and on which traffic experiments are being performed.
The main objective of the research was to raise the awareness of potential customers to the benefits to be obtained from broadband communications. This was approached through the provision through the provision of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) test bed, which had a capability for interconnection with other broadband islands.

Key issues in the research were:
integrated broadband communications (IBC) network prototype integration;
the provision of a supported ATM test infrastructure;
the interoperability between broadband platforms covering wide geographical areas; the verification of IBC system specifications and interfaces;
the interconnection of ATM networks to existing networks and transmission systems;
traffic experiments, under controlled conditions and using real sources.

As a result of the research, specifications of the external interfaces for all the interconnection equipment being developed in the project (2 megabit per second and 140 megabit per second mappers, narrowband (N-ISDN) and frame relay interworking units) are available. Collaborative agreements have been established for the demonstration of pilot broadband applications, terminal equipment and other interworking capabilities (eg ATM and distributed queue dual bus (DQDB), and ATM over satellite). Influential contributions have been made to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (CCITT) in the areas of frame relaying, broadband integrated services digital network (B-ISDN) interworking, and the mapping of ATM cells into existing plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) transmission systems.The first European demonstration of ATM over satellite was made within this project.

For a successful introduction of the asynchronous transmission (ATM) based broadband integrated services digital network (ISDN) (B-ISDN) it is very important to provide access to existing networks, in particular to the narrow band ISDN (N-ISDN). This requires interworking functions which are able to connect the 2 networks on the physical layer but also on higher layers of the protocol stack. Moreover, the user plane and the control plane of the protocol stack have to be distinguished. The interworking of the different signalling protocols within the control planes of B-ISDN and N-ISDN has been examined. After the investigation of the concepts for the signalling interworking, a concrete implementation of an interworking unit between an ATM testbed and a public N-ISDN was developed.
Technical Approach

This project makes available a substantial ATM testbed, comprising nodes containing terminal equipment and switches which are representative of those to be found in both customer premises and public broadband networks. All switching nodes are interconnected via standardised ATM optical interfaces to form a prototype broadband network. Terminal adapters are provided to interface with non-ATM terminals. A number of different interworking units are being developed within the project. The technique of transporting LAN data across an ATM network in Frame Relay format is being demonstrated, also with interworking to terminals attached to N-ISDN. Experiments using real traffic sources will validate existing theoretical models, particularly in the areas of CAC and UPT. Connections to other broadband testbeds are made via the European ATM Pilot Network.

Key Issues

- IBC Network prototype integration.
- Provision of a supported ATM test infrastructure.
- Provision of inter-operability between broadband platforms covering a wide geographical area.
- Verification of IBC system specifications and interfaces.
- Interconnection of ATM networks to existing networks.
- Traffic experiments under controlled conditions and using real sources.

Expected Impact

This project offers unique opportunities to raise the awareness of potential customers regarding the benefits of broadband communications. It also demonstrates to network operators the feasibility of running pilot applications over an ATM system and validates traffic control and management algorithms through experiments and measurements on an ATM network under near real conditions. The work will extend the European pool of knowledge on ATM.

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

ASSOCIATION SWISS PTT/ASCOM TECH
Address
Berner Technopark Morgenstrasse 129
3018 Bern
Switzerland

See on map

Participants (23)

ALCATEL STANDARD ELECTRICS SA (SESA)
Spain
Address
Ramirez De Prado, 5
Madrid

See on map

ALCATEL TELECOM NORWAY AS
Norway
Address
Oestre Aker Vei 33, P.o. Box 310, Oekern
511 Oslo 5

See on map

ASCOM TECH AG
Switzerland
Address
Morgenstrasse 129
3018 Bern

See on map

BELL TELEPHONE MFG CO (ALCATEL-BELL)
Belgium
Address
Francis Wellesplein 1
2018 Antwerpen

See on map

British Telecom plc (BT)
United Kingdom
Address
British Telecom Laboratories Martlesham Heath
IP5 7RE Ipswich

See on map

CENTRO DE ESTUDOS DE TELECOMMUNICOES
Portugal
Address
R. Eng. Jose Ferreira Pinto Basto
3800 Aveiro

See on map

COPENHAGEN TELEPHONE COMPANY
Denmark
Address
Norregade 21
1199 Copenhagen K

See on map

DBP TELEKOM FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT
Germany
Address
Am Kavalleriesand 3
6100 Darmstadt

See on map

INST. DE ENGENHARIA DE COMPUTADORES
Portugal
Address
R. Alves Redol, 9, Apartado 10105
1017 Lisbon Codex

See on map

JYDSK TELEFON
Denmark
Address
Sletvej 30
8310 Arhus-tranbjerg J.

See on map

LABORATOIRE D'ELECTRONIQUE PHILIPS
France
Address
22 Avenue Descartes
94453 Limeil-brevannes

See on map

Mikroelektronik Anwendungszentrum Hamburg GmbH
Germany
Address
Karnapp 20
21079 Hamburg

See on map

NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Greece
Address
Heroon Polytechneion 9
15773 Zographou, Athens

See on map

NOKIA CORPORATION
Finland
Address
Revontulentie 8c
2101 Espoo

See on map

NORWEGIAN TELECOM RESEARCH
Norway
Address
Instituttveien 23
2007 Kjeller

See on map

Philips Kommunikations Industrie AG
Germany
Address
Thurn-und-taxis-straße 10
90411 Nürnberg

See on map

REGIE DES TELEGRAPHES ET DES TELEPHONES
Belgium
Address
42, Rue Des Palais
1210 Bruxelles

See on map

ROYAL PTT NEDERLAND NV, PTT RESEARCH
Netherlands
Address
Principal Office St. Paulusstraat 4
2260 AK Leidschendam

See on map

STANDARD ELEKTRIK LORENZ AG (SEL)
Germany
Address
Lorenzstraße 10
7000 Stuttgart

See on map

TELEFONICA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO
Spain
Address
C/ Emilio Vargas, 6
28043 Madrid

See on map

UNIVERSITY OF GHENT
Belgium
Address
Sint-pietersnieuwstraat 25
9000 Gent

See on map

UNIVERSITY OF NIJMEGEN
Netherlands
Address
Toernooiveld 1
6525 Ed Nijmegen

See on map

Universität Stuttgart
Germany
Address
Seidenstraße 36
70174 Stuttgart

See on map