Communication Infrastructures in Access Networks

Abstract

Access networks are usually termed “last-mile/first-mile” networks since they connect the end user with the metro-edge network (or the exchange). This connectivity is often at data rates that are significantly slower than the data rates available at metro and core networks. Metro networks span large cities and core networks connect cities or bigger regions together by forming a backbone network on which traffic from an entire city is transported. With the industry achieving up to 400 Gbps of data rates at core networks (and increasing those rates [Reading, 2013]), it is critical to have high-speed access networks that can cope with the tremendous bandwidth opportunity and not act as a bottleneck. The opportunity lies in enabling services that can be of benefit to the consumers as well as large organizations. For instance, moving institutional/personal data to the cloud will require a high-speed access network that can overcome delays incurred during upload and download of information. Cloud-based services, such as computing and storage services are further enhanced with the availability of such high-speed access networks. Access networks have evolved over time and the industry is constantly looking for ways to improve their capacity. Therefore, an understanding of the fundamental technologies involved in wired and wireless access networks will help the reader appreciate the full potential of the cloud and cloud access. Against the same backdrop, this chapter aims at providing an understanding of the evolution of access technologies that enable the tremendous mobility potential of cloud-based services in the contemporary cloud paradigm.