New  Broadband Forum Initiatives in
Next Generation Access (NGA) and Architecture

COO Robin Mersh unveils expanded  testing and certification efforts, as well as highlights the new suite of work  targeting end-to-end architecture evolution for powerful new multi-service  converged Networks.
 
[Date] In keeping with its role as the architect of the “Connected  Lifestyle,” the Broadband Forum, the global consortium of approximately 200  leading telecommunications service providers, network equipment manufacturers  and software companies driving broadband solutions around the world, has today  announced a comprehensive range of initiatives aimed at empowering next  generation access solutions in a variety of technologies, including ADSL2plus,  VDSL2 and GPON.

Speaking at the FTTx Summit in London, Robin Mersh, COO of the Broadband  Forum, highlighted the extension of the Broadband Forum’s testing and  conformance efforts, encouraging the evolution of access technologies.  This work includes:

  • Recent enhancements to the ADSL2plus functionality  test plan (TR-105 Corrigendum 2)
  • Introduction of the new VDSL2 test suite  (TR-114/TR-115 and TR-138)
  • Development of a new Vectoring best practices white  paper (MD-257)
  • Recently added GPON interoperability abstract test  development and testing being performed in conjunction with Full Service Access  Network (FSAN).  This work includes  ongoing Plugfest events, open to all FSAN and Broadband Forum equipment and  chipset vendors.  Click  here for a list of upcoming events
  • Additional fiber-related work is also moving forward  addressing EPON

Another critical new area of the Broadband Forum's work includes specifications  addressing end-to-end architecture evolution requirements. With a focus on  establishing the global bar for multi-service architectures, a body of work has  been launched to help service providers migrate to a more flexible, IP and  MPLS-based mesh network approach aimed at facilitating efficient and cost  effective delivery of multimedia services, assuring new levels of excellence in  end-user quality of experience. This  pending release will be based on TR-144 "Broadband Multi-Service Architecture & Framework Requirements" and anchored by key work in progress, such as WT-145 "Broadband Architecture Requirements" and WT-223  "Requirements for MPLS over Aggregated Interfaces".  A new white paper associated with this work  is also in development titled “Unified MPLS: Enabling next generation transport and services using MPLS-TP”.

 "Our role is to ensure that the industry has all the specifications and tools it needs to optimize networks, advance interoperability, and ultimately to capture the full potential of broadband worldwide,” says Robin Mersh, COO of the Broadband Forum. “These new  initiatives and joint efforts will provide those tools needed to expedite the migration to the next generation broadband network.”

For further information about the Broadband Forum visit www.broadband-forum.org.

- ENDS –

For further information  please contact Sheila Lashford on +44 (0) 1827 830247 or +44 (0) 7986 514240 or  by email to sheila@splash-pr.biz

About the  Broadband Forum
From the heart of the network to the  connected user, the Broadband Forum is the Chief Architect of the Connected  Lifestyle.  Following its union with the IP/MPLS Forum, the Broadband Forum is now the central body for end-to-end multi-service  architecture development and network specifications. This organization,  comprising around 200 members of the world’s leading service providers,  equipment manufacturers, chip vendors and other key organizations, defines next  generation solutions for access, mobile backhaul, business services, IPTV, gaming and other applications, and is poised to address further developments as  they arise. The Broadband Forum’s formal Technical Reports and white papers are  publicly available at www.broadband-forum.org.

Robin Mersh, Broadband Forum Chief Operating Officer
Robin Mersh, Broadband Forum Chief Operating Officer, joined the Forum as Chief Operating Officer in July  2006 and is the senior full time executive. He has worked in the  telecommunications industry for over 17 years, starting in sales and sales  management for Cable & Wireless and then moving onto BT before moving to  the US in 1999. Robin has worked in business development and alliance  management for various OSS software companies in the US, and has now been  leading the operations, strategic development and liaison efforts of the  Broadband Forum for the last three years.

BT Openreach

  

Cisco

Associate Sponsors

Linkedin Group

IIR Supports