SYNCHRONOU

S DIGITAL
HIERARCHY

WHAT IS SYNCHRONOUS
TRANSMISSION

Synchronous Transmission has been developed to overcome

the problems associated with Plesichronous Transmission, in
particular the inability of the PDH to extract individual circuits
from high capacity systems without having to demultiplex the
whole system.

MAIN FEATURE OF SDH

Network Management Capability
Channel Extraction
Any existing PDH Transmission Rate to be packaged into an
STM-1 frame.

PRINCIPLES OF SDH
SDH DIAGRAM

SDH PRINICIPLES
The SDH defines a number of containers, each
corresponding to an existing PDH rate.

Information from PDH signal is mapped into the relevant

container. The way in which this is done is similar to bit
stuffing procedure carried out in PDH MUX.

Each container then has some control information known

as the path overhead added to it.

CONT-------- PATH OVER HEAD bytes allow the network operator

to achieve end to end path monitoring of things such
as error rates.

Together the container and the path overhead form a

VIRTUAL CONTAINER

FIG

CONT---------- In a synchronous network, all equipment is synchronized

to an over all network clock.

It is important to note that the delay associated with a

transmission link may vary slightly with time. As a result
the location of virtual containers within STM-1 frame is
may not be fixed.

These variations are accommodated by

pointer with each VC.

associating a

CONT---------- The pointer indicates the position of the beginning of the VC

in relation to the STM-1 frame.

It can be incremented as necessary to a accommodate

movements of the position of the VC.

CONT------- G.709 defines different combinations of virtual containers

which can be used to fill up the payload area of an STM-1
frame. The process of loading containers and attaching
overhead is repeated at several levels in SDH, resulting
the nesting of smaller VCs within larger ones. This
process is repeated until the largest size of VC (VC-4 in
Europe) is filled, and this is loaded into the pay load of
the STM-1

CONT---------- When the payload area of the STM- 1 frame is full,

some more information bytes are added to the
frame to form a Section Overhead

The section overhead bytes are so-called because

they remain with the payload for the fiber section
between to SDH MUX.

PURPOSE OF SECTION OVERHEAD

BYTES
Their purpose is to provide communication channels for

functions such as OA&M facilities.

User channel
Protection switching
Section performance
Frame alignment
Etc.

BYTE INTERLEAVING MULTIPLEXING

SCHEME
When a higher transmission rate than the 155 Mbits/s of STM1 is required in a synchronous network, it is achieved by a
relatively straight forward Byte interleaving Multiplexing
scheme

In this way rates of 622 Mbits/s (STM-4) - 10 Gbits/s (STM-64)

can be achieved.

BENEFITS OF SYNCHRONOUS
NETWORK

Network Simplification: A single SDH MUX can perform

the function of an entire PDH MUX mountain.

Fig
Leading to significant reduction in the amount of
equipment used. Lower operating costs will also result
through reduction in spares inventory required,
simplified maintenance, and also reduction in floor
space required by the equipment, and lower power
consumption.

BENEFITS OF NETWORK
SIMPLIFICATION CONT------ The more efficient drop and insert of channels offered by an
SDH network, together with its powerful network management
capabilities, will lead to greater ease in provisioning of high
bandwidth lines of news multimedia services as well as
ubiquitous access to those services.

Thus the simplification of the network, and flexibility this brings

opens up the potential for network operator to generate new
revenue.

SURVIVABILITY

The deployment of optical fiber throughout the network

and adoption of the SDH network element makes end to

end monitoring and maintenance of network integrity a
possibility. The network management capability of the
synchronous network will enable the failure of links or
even nodes to be identified immediately. Using self
healing ring architecture, the network will be
automatically reconfigured with traffic intensity rerouted
until such a time as the faulty equipment has been
repaired.

SURVIVABILITY CONT---- Thus, failure in the network transport mechanism will be

invisible on an end to end basis. Such failure will not disrupt
services, allowing network operators to commit to extremely
high availability of service figures and guarantee high levels
of network performance

SOFTWARE CONTROL

Provision of network management channels within the

SDH frame structure means that a synchronous network

will be fully software controllable. Network management
system will not only perform traditional event
management functions- dealing with alarms in the
network, but will also provide a host of other functions,
such as performance monitoring, configuration
management, resource management Network Security,
Inventory Management and Network Planning and
design.

SOFTWARE CONTROL CONT------ The possibility of remote provisioning and centralized

maintenance will mean a great saving in time spent by
maintenance personnel in traveling to remote sites, and this
of course corresponds to expense saving.

BANDWIDTH ON DEMAND
In a synchronous network it will be possible to
dynamically allocate network capability, or
bandwidth, on demand. User any where within the
network will be able to subscribe at very short
notice to any service offered over the network, some
of which may require large amount of bandwidth. An
example of this is dialup video conferencing. User
link just by dialing the appropriate number, as
opposed to the current situation where
videoconferencing link must be booked days in
advance.

BANDWIDTH ON DEMAND CONT-- Many other new services become possible in a synchronous
network. These will represent new source of revenue for
network operators, and increased convenience for users.
Some examples are high speed packet services, LAN
interconnection and HDTV

FUTURE PROOF NETWORKING

The synchronous Digital Hierarchy offers network operators a
future proof network solution, plus software upgradeability
and extensions to existing equipment.

ELEMENTS OF SYNCHRONOUS
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
Multiplexers: Synchronous Multiplexers, as defined by
ITU-T SDH recommendations, perform both multiplexing
and line terminating functions, as shown in

Fig
Thus a synchronous MUX replaces a bank of PDH and
associated line terminating equipment, while at the
same time bringing new functionality.

SDH MUX CONT-------- Synchronous Multiplexers can accept a wide range of

tributaries, and offer a number of possible output data rate
as shown in

Fig
On the tributary side, all current PDH bit rates can be
accommodated.

SDH MUX CONT--------------- The synchronous Optical Interface of the synchronous

multiplexer can be duplicated for protection. This can be
done in two ways, either traditional 1+1 protection can be
provided, or the optical port can operate in an EAST/ WEST
NODE to allow the implementation of ring topologies.

Synchronous ring can improve resilience and reduce both

fiber requirement and network cost.

POINT TO POINT CONFIGURATIONS

Synchronous Multiplexers can be used effectively high
capacity point to point applications where they are cost
competitive with PDH solutions. The equipment facilitates
provision of new services and provide an upgrade path as
network evolves.

fig

ADD DROP CONFIGURATION

This configuration is similar to the previous one but the fact
that a number of MUX are used to provide connectivity
between nodes along a route. The MUX are configured to add
drop channel at these node

RING CONFIGURATION
For areas of the network requiring high survivability,
synchronous multiplexers may be configured as a high
capacity self healing fiber ring. The ring structure is able to
reconfigure without the intervention of external network
management should equipment or cable occur maintaining
continuity of service

HUB CONFIGURATIONS
By using tributary interfaces, a terminal can be
configured as a fiber hub for use in multi-site network
applications, This eliminates the need for back fiber
terminals.

In addition to its operation capabilities, a synchronous

multiplexer offer a Network Management channel
which may provide alarm and monitoring information
for individual tributaries within an STM-1 signal

HUB CONFIGURATION CONT-- Not only does this provide enhanced management abilities,
but since management within the SDH is to be standardized,
additional cost benefits can be realized by network Operator
through more efficient Management System.

CROSS CONNECT FUNCTIONALITY

Cross Connections in a synchronous network involves

setting up semi-permanent interconnections between
different channels, enabling routing to be performed
down to a VC level.

This description seems to suggest that cross connection

is similar to switching, but there are fundamental
difference between two .

CROSS
CONNECT
CONT-----difference
is that a switch
operates as a
The main
temporary connection which is set up under the
control of the end user, while cross connection is a
transmission technique use to set up a semi
permanent connection under the control of the
network operator via a network manager.

However, as network services evolves to wideband

and broadband, it is certainly possible that the
switch and cross connect functions will begin to
merge. This is particularly true when ATM services
begin volume deployment

CROSS CONNECT CONT----- There is also a distinction between the plesiochronous

cross connect unit which has established itself to some

extent within current networks, and the synchronous
cross connection function.
The traditional PDH X-connect was developed to
replace manual digital distribution frames which were
seen as reliable and labor intensive as shown in
Fig
Slow to setup, prone to error and expensive.

X-CONNECT CONT-------

In deploying a plesiochronous automatic Digital

Distribution Frame, this allows traffic passing through
the cross connect to effectively share the physical
connection at different instances in time. However this
requires that all traffic through a PDH X-Connect is
synchronized, thus necessitating the expense of
providing a justifications mechanism at the interface
between it and the network.

X-CONNET CONT---- The traffic rates through plesiochronous cross connect

also need to be limited to a manageable size since
these cross connect can only easily operate at a single
rate. Most choose to switch at the 64 Kbits/s level and
interface at 2 Mbit/s. This means that all traffic must be
demultiplexed to 2 Mbits/s before it can be connected,
thus increasing equipment requirement, sized and cost.

X-CONNECT CONT---

With the introduction of synchronous transmission

system the need for any justification of signals at
the interface with the cross connecting device is
removed. Fig shows the difference between PDH
and SDH X-Connect.

Probably the most important difference between the

plesiochronous network digital cross-connect
(referred the plesiochronous network digital cross
connect (refered as DXC) and the synchronous cross
connect function is the actual deployment planning.

CONT-- A DXC is required wherever a large add-drop function is

performed or where a lot of manual reconfiguration
takes place in the network to provide new service or
groom existing service for efficient facility utilization.

Any of these application required the use of a distinct

piece of plesiochronous equipment called a DXC to
perform the function.

DXX CONT-- The synchronous X-Connect function, when required does not
necessarily mean the need for a separate piece of
equipment. The flexibility of SDH allows the cross connect
functionality to reside in almost any network element, the
most obvious being an add-drop MUX.

SDXC (SYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL XCONNET)

There are two types of dedicated SDXC commonly

referred to, the

SDXC 4/4.
SDXC 4/1
These are used in special applications to supplement
the distributed cross-connect functionality of a
synchronous network. The numbering scheme describe
the VC level at which they can accept inputs and crossconnect respectively. It can be seen that the difference
between the two is the multiplex level at which they
can cross connect traffic.

SDXC 4/4
The SDXC 4/4 is usually designed to accept input s at 140,
155 or 622 Mbits/s or higher. It can cross-connect at 155 or
140 Mbits/s. It may be used in the core of the transmission
network for network protection as an alternative to STM-16
base protection ring architecture.

SDXC 4/1
The SDXC 4/1 can usually accept combinations of

2,155 and 622 Mbits/s input. It can cross connect VC1 containers, i.e 2Mb/s channels, though in many
cases 4/1 cross connects will also be able to cross
connect VC-2s, concatenated VC-2s, VC-3, and VC-4.
These pieces of equipment may be used where
special circumstances lead to the requirement for a
point of additional flexibility in the outer core
transmission network.

SYNCHRONOUS DEPLOYMENT
Multi-vendor Connectivity
Technological Discontinuity.
Reduction in equipment.
Improved Network Resilience.
Network Management.
Single Stage Multiplexing.
Single Stage Multiplexing.
Distributed Bandwidth Management.
Software Down load
Ring Deployment.

SDH DEPLOYMENT

Implementation of New Services.

Improved Earning.
Deployment Triggers
Modernisation
The SDH Solution
Network Evolution
Management Services Network
International Services Network

MULTI VENDOR CONNECTIVITY

The standardisation of synchronous interfaces
means that a planner can mix and match
products from different vendors in the
network, without having to concerned about
their ability to work together. However there
is still the possibility of implementing the
standards in different ways. Thus the
network planner must understand the
impact of choosing between such options as,
Floating,or Fixed mode mapping, or choosing
between asynchronous, bit synchronous or
Byte synchronous mapping.

TECHNOLOGICAL DISCONTINUITY
Because synchronous can carry plesiochronous payload it
can be deployed in an evolutionary manner. However,
because of the changes associated with synchronous
systems it does represent something of a technological
discontinuity. Thus, in order to effectively overcome the
limitations of the PDH, network operators must plan the
introduction of the synchronous into their network with
care.

REDUCTION IN EQUIPMENT
SDH will lead to simplification of the network. The
multiplexing structure allows for greater integration of
products, along with greater control of equipment. The
network planner faces the exciting challenge of using
synchronous equipment in such a way as to unleash the full
power inherent in it.

IMPROVED NETWORK RESILIENCE

A synchronous network will be more reliable

due to both the increased reliability of

individual elements, and the more resilient
structure of the whole network. Synchronous
will allow development of network topologies
which will be able to achieve network
protection , that is survive failures in the
network by reconfiguring and maintaining
service by alternate means. Network
Protection can be achieved the use of cross
connect functionality to achieve restoration or
through the use of self-healing ring
architectures.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT
SDH gives the network operator the opportunity to
manage network performance effectively and make
change flexibility as required. Synchronous
equipment will have a significant proportion of its
design embedded in software instead of hardware.
Therefore, the network manager will be able to
control equipment configuration changes through
software management. What is ultimately required
is the ability for the network manager to implement
what is called IN SERVICE PROVISIONING.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT --- This is where a request for service is entered into the

network manager via a terminal or other electronic

mean and is then broken down into a series of
instructions to each network element involved in that
service. Each network element is then configured and
provisioned in software to support the service request
without having to be taken out of service. It is
important that the network operator plans his network in
such a way as to take advantage of benefits resulting
from in service provisioning.

SINGLE STAGE MULTIPLEXING

The SDH multiplexing structure allows many different

tributaries to be multiplexed together into an STM-n signal in

a single stage of multiplexing. Thus the network planner is
not bound by a rigidly hierarchical network structure, as he
was with the PDH. The planner now has at his disposal the
bandwidth flexibility essential for the introduction of new
services.

DISTRIBUTED BANDWIDTH
MANAGEMENT

The plesiochronous cross connect was originally conceived as

a devie to sumplify routing and gromming at srtrategic poinit
s in the network, However, the necessity to transport traffic
to cross connet site often outwidhed the benefirs gained.

DISTRIBUTED BANDWIDTH
MANAGEMENT- In a sunchronoos network, the abitlity of multiplexers to
perform routing and frooning down to the VC level means
that cross connect functionality can be distributed
througout the network. This distributed bandwidth
management capability means that standalone cross
connects are only required to be deployed at points in
the network where exceptional felxibility is required.

DISTRIBUTED BANDWIDTH
MANAGEMENT - The distribution of cross conect funactinality,

togerhter with the connectivity procide aby rsilient

ring structures means that in a sycronos network it
becones possible to mange the distrubution of
banwith down to th VC level. This distributed
badwidth manamenent capabilty is essntial to
techniques such as in service provisioning , and
flexible badwidth allocation as well as to berfwork
managemet techniques tha bneawork operators will
be able to talke full adavantage of the power of SDH

SOFTWARE DOWN LOAD

In a sychchronous network it wll become posible to

down load software an configuration ifomaton to

Netowrk Elemant via the Embedded
Commmunication channe. (ECC). Using this facility it
will become possible to amange sofware relaeases
and updatred remotely, with download as done either
aurmaically or amanually. This abitly waill further
contribute to the redcution of operating cost is a
sychronous network.

RING DEPLOYMENT
Telecommunication users, particularly business isers are

becoming increasing dependent on the efficient transfer of

information. Use of telecommunication for vital transactions,
such as elecrtroing funds trasfers, order processing .,
customer service and inverntory control makes service makes
sercie surviability moer important than ever before.

RING DEPLOYMENT --- In many cases, loss of service can hace disastrous results,

Conseqently many users are now looking for a gurantee as to

conitinuity of service and willing to pay a premium to get it.
By using synchronous equpment to implement a survivable
network architecture, network operators can thus repsond to
this demand, in the process generating additonal revenus.

RING DEPLOYMENT-- The synchronous ring structure, with its inherent

resilience, is a powreful building block form which

surviable neworks cab be bult. Within ETSI TM3 a
recommendation (G.sna1) is currently being drafted
which describes sychronous network applicatons,
including both point to point and ring toplogies. It will
describe the way in which SDH rings can be used to
provie end to end path protection and multiplex section
(MS ) pretection at the tranmission media level against
link and node failures.

RING DEPLOYMENT -- Two main types of sychronous ring architecture are

being defined.

1- The (unidirectional) dedicated path switched ring

sends traffic both ways around the ring, and uses a
protection switch mechanism to select the alternate
signal at the receiver end upon failure detection. This is
a Dedicated protection Ring.

RING DEPLOYMENT -- The (bidirectional) sharen ed MS switched ring is

able to share protection capabililty which is
reseced all the way around the ring. In the event
of a failure to route traffic through the spare
capacity. To protect all traffic on the ring it is only
necessary to reserve enough protection capacity
to protect the largest working span. This is Shared
Protection Ring (SPRing)

RING DEPLOYMENT --- The ability to share protecton capacityh in bidirectional

SPRings can in many instances offer a significant capacity
advage over unidirectional DPRings. This means, in economic
terms less equipment, lower cost, and less operations effort
for the network opeators.

RING DEPLOYMENT- Two types of ring achitecture are best suited to different
applications.

1- Unidirectional DPRing are best suited to hub taffic

applications, whre the simplicity of the implementation and
the high availabiity offered by DPRings for the end to end
path is important. This would typically occur in the access
network.

RING DEPLOYMENT- Bidirectional SPRings are best suited to site /adjacent site and
uniform traffic applications, where the capacity advantage of
SPRing is significant. This would occur in metropolitan,
junction, and trunk network applications.

RING DEPLOYMENT - Another important characteristics of the survivable ring

architecture is the aotomous operation at the transmission

level for fast recovery form tlink and node failures. This
reduces management complexity associated with TMN. This
fast switching time at which rings recover from failure means
negligible impact on service interruptions.

RING DEPLOYMENT-- The autonomous network surviability offered by rings

is further enhanced by the inherent Distributed

Bandwidth Management capability, where each ADM
node on the ring is capable of routing and grooming at
the VC level to provide a efficiency of control and
management over the transmission network, as well
as reduces the required number of stand alone cross
connects such as SDXC 4/1 for hubbing of traffic and
SDXC 4/4 for network protection.

IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW
SERVICES
Synchronous technology allows planners to look at
their network in terms of service demands rather
than just the provisioning of point to point facilities.
In order to succeed in an increasingly competitive
telecommunication world, service providers must
take an integrated approach in network planning in
order to achieve a network the power of which is
greater than the power of its constituents parts.
Only by doing this will the operator be able to build
a network infrastructure strong enough to ensure
support of any service to anyone, anywhere.

IMPROVED EARNING

By taking careful of all the issues discussed above,

the network operator will be able to acieve a

significant incrase in earinings. Synchronous will help
him to reduce network costs (e.g through reduction in
equipment), improved network survivability (e.g
through reduction in equipment), improve network
survivability e.g( through the deployment of rings)
reduce operating costs (e.g through the deployment
of more reliable equipment and the use of network
management ) and increas revenues by offering new
services.

DEPLOYMENT TRIGGERS
Changes to the network are generally made either to
grow its capacity of to mederanise it. This secton
sets out to examine why such changes to the
network might arise, and how they can be achieved.
Fig
Show a common method of terminating fiber in an
exchange, demultiplexing the traffic and managing
the routing and grooming function at the DDF.

GROWTH

The need for network growth occurs in response to

either geographic movement of end users, increase

in number of end users or increased banwdth
rquirements, particularly form business users. Such
a requirement can currently lead to a number of
problems, such as exhaustion of optical channels
on the PDH optical line system, and the need to
expand the digital distibution frame.
Optical fiber channel exhaustion is currently
overcome by deploying a new PDH system in
parallel to eh old one, and using it to transport new
traffic as necessary.
Expansion of DDF is an unpleasent task involving
much manual reconnection activity with its possible
human error.

MODERNIZATION
The network may need to modernized for a
number of reasons. Some of the most common
reason in response to demand for increased quality
of service, in order to cut operating costs or in
order to offer new services and hence generate
new revenus.

The DDF is likely to be limiting factor in any

network modernisation programme. Any changes
made in the current network are likely to have
limited effects as a result of the inefficiency of the
DDF.

SDH SOLUTION- SDH equipment can be used to overcome the

limitations outlined above, as shown in fig.

An SDH multiplexer, with its increased capacity, can be
deployed in place of its PDH counterpart. There is no
need initially for full scale repalcement of DDF. By
utilizing the cross connection functionality embeded in
the SDH MUX it is possible to automate the mangement
of chage in the private curcuits and leave the fairly
stable PSTN circuits on the DDF.

SDH SOLUTION-- The cross connect capability of the SDH MUX has the
added benefit of manageing the routing of thorough
traffic, thus further offloading the DDF. Over time, as the
use of SDH in this exchange grows, it amy become
appropriate to repalce the DDF with a stand alone SDXC.
This economic decision will occur as more and more
traffic moves off the copper cables and on the fiber.

SDH SOLUTION- Thus SDH has provided a number of benefits in this

example. These are:

1- Provision for capacity growth.
2- Automation of the DDF function
a- Faster Implementation of changes
b- Improved reliability
c- Reduced whole life cost of ownership
3- Integration of product functions
4- Ability to support enhanced services.

SDH SOLUTION
It is important to note, however, that no deployment of SDH
equpment should take place in isolation from a total network
plan. Such a plan will ensure that any piece of equipment
deployed will improve monitoring, survivability, provisioning,
and control of the complete network.

NETWORK EVOLUTION

There are several possible deployment methods for

synchronous equipment whithin hteth inter office
area of a neawork, one of which is the use of the ring
topology. Delployement of synchronous rings will
bring immence felexibility and resiliene to the
nertwork.

The junction ara includes a number parucular

applications which can utilize rings of synchronous
mulitplexers. One example is in the area of
restructing local exchanges, to improve fiber
utilisation and reduce operating and equipment costs

NETWORK
EVOLUTION--networks are
characterised by highly
Most European
interconnected mocal exchanges, which are in turn
connected to main local area exchanges for access to
higher levels of the transmission hierarchy as shown in
fig.

Although maintaining a high availablitiy, this method of

traffic collection is high in equipment caost and
somewhat watesful of fiber.

NETWORK EVOLUTION ----

In an attempt to reduof thece costs, some operators

have proposed the use of small remote units to
concentrate PSTN traffic. These are connected to
higher levels of the transmission hierarchy via main
local exchange. The transport of the traffic from
these remotes to themain local exchange provides
an ideal opportunity for the deployment of
sychrnous systems to reduce operating costs.

Fig show how the remotes would be connected to

the main local exchange using sycnronous systems
to reduce opertating cost.

NETWORK EVOLUTION ---

Fig shows how the remotes would be connected

to the main local exchange via using

synchronous transmission equipment. The
equipment may be deployed either in a flattened
ring or in a true physical ring. Such an STM-1
Ring may have several remote connected onto it,
with each terminating a mixture of private circuit
(PC) traffic and PSTN traffic, as shown in fig.
Protection would be provided by routing the high
availability private circuit traffic may either be
treated similarly, or could be split in some ratio
for diverse routing to maintain traffic in the event
of a fiber break.

NETWORK EVOLUTION---

Consider the particular example shown in fig with an

STM-1 ring connecting five remote to a main local
exchange.

A typical route may be capable of supporting up to 16x2

Mbits/s of traffic, although in practice it may only
terminate around half of this. For the purpose of
discussion consider a network in which traffic will
comprise both PSTN and private circuit (PC) traffic, with
around 80-90% of this being PSTN.

NETWORK EVOLUTION-- Assuming that two of the remotes connect eight channels of
PSTN with two 2Mbps PCs connected directly onto SDH MUX,
and the remaining three remote carry sixteen channels of
PSTN and four PCs the traffic on the ring is:

NETWORK EVOLUTION-- 2 remotes with 8x2Mbits/s PSTN +2X2Mbits/s PCs=

= 8 channels (half routed clockwise and half routed
anti-clockwise) + 2 channels (routed both ways)

= 8 + (2x2)
= 12 channels (from each of the 2 remotes)
= 24 channels on ring---------------------------------A

NETWORK EVOLUTION --- 3 remote with 16x2Mbit/s PSTN + 4X2Mbits/s PCs =

= 16 channels (half routed clockwise, half anti
clockwise + 4 channels (routed both ways)

= 16 + (4x2)
= 24 channels (from each of the 3 remotes)
= 72 channels on ring---------------------------------B
A+B = 96 (TOTAL NUMBER OF CHANNELS ON RING)

NETWORK EVOLUTION
Since the taotal ring capacitynis 126 channels this

givces a fill factor on the ring of 96/ 126 = 75%. This

figure follows aroung 25% of the ring capacity for
expansion, before the ring would bneed upgardation
in its capacity i.e to STM-4. It must be remembered
that provision must be mad4e at the tring head for all
channls requireing access to the main local exchange.
In many instances this will involves use of multiple
muxs at the ring head.

NETWORK EVOLUTION

Bt taking advantage of the embedded cross connect

functinality in the ring head mux, it is possible to goon

the 2 M bits/s channels, separating PSTN traffic from
other transmission based sevices ans in figure 5.6 A
furhter consequence of this is that the number of main
local exchange sites may be reudces and they may be
relocated at certral sites to simplify adminitration. This
can be achieved with syschronous links form the ring
head to the exchange at either the STM -1 or STM-4
level.

NETWORK EVOLUTION
Further links from the ring head would provide

access to the higher level of the transmission

network.
At this stage, the network comprises a number of
isolated areas of synchronous transmission
equipment, which may be considered as islands. The
next stage of development will take one of the two
paths. The network operators may choose to
ocntinue this staratefgy u ntill islands grow to the
extent a which they begin tjo merge.
The alternative is to provide links between the
islands using higher rate synchronous systems,
hence allowing the befefits of the complete
sysnchronous network to be realised at an earlier
stage.

MANAGED SERVICES NETWORK

Analysis of the continued growth in communications traffic

througout Europe shows that the largest areas of expansion

are due to non PSTN traffic. In order to maintain the
migration to a Managed Transmission Network, supporting
new services efficiently, there is a need for greater control
over the transmission network.

MANAGED SERVICES NETWORK

To achive this control requires a level of fexibility

within both trunk and junction network. This flexibility

can be provided by the use of distributed bandwidth
management techniques, to allow for effective conrol
of the network capacity. By distributing cross connect
functionality througout the network, and using flexible
synchronous ring architectures, new services can be
made available at a relatively low incremental cost to
the network operator.

MANAGED SERVICES NETWORK

An intergrated synchronus network allows the end user a
range of interfaces, which can accommodate the types of
traffic mentioned above within the SDH signal. Thus a
synchronous network could act as transpoer tnetwork for a
wide ranfg eof secices as shown in figure 5.7 Thses may
include any of the follwing

MANAGED SERVICES NETWORK

ISDN, PSTN,Private Circuits, PSS Telex, Fax , X-400,

Cable Tv, Video Phone, computer links LANs, VPN,
Cellular and ATM and BISDN
The requirement of such sercice and in parutcular
MANs, LANs, and other computer oriented services,
raise an issue which relates to the sychronous signal
structure itself.
In order to serve the requirements of these services it
is necessary that the SDH improves upon the
granularity of secices rates availble inder the existing
PDH.

MANAGED SERVICES NETWORK

A typical example would be customer requriement for a

10Mbps data pipe. The only way inwhainc hisn cluld be

supported by existing transmission equimpemnt would be cia
the use of a 34 Mbps pont to point systems with terminal
equimpmnent providing a bit stuffing operation to pack out
the spare 24 Mbps of capacity. This would of course be very
efficient.

MANAGED SERVICES NETWORK

The way in which the SDH provides a higher granulariy to

transmission rates is cia the use of contatenated TUs.

Concatenated involves the association of a numbner of
TU s within ones STM-1 singals in order to offer a rate
that is a muulple of the TU signal. The way in which this
is done will not be descirberd in deatail. However deraisn
of the first level of contenation of can be found in G709.
This describe the method for conruguous contatenation
of TU-2 s, which allow transmission rates given by
MXTU-2 capacity = MX6312kbits/s ( M= 1 to 21)
Thus the 10 Mbps interconnect requiremetn above could
be satisfied by the use of two TU-2 concatenated. This
would be reffeered to as a TU-2 mc (with a capacity of
13696 kbps)

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES NETWORK

An evolving Managed Transmission Network (MTN) must
be based upoi identifiable cost befifits to the network
operator, and/or the possibility of increased revenues.
The drive for the introduction of an international service
network is generated by the need to provide business
users with increasing amounts of capacity over leased
digital circuits, across international boundaries.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES NETWORK

In the UK, both the areas of leased narrowbnand

(Kilostream) and 2 Mbits/s (Mega stream) services

have seen a rapid take up (The forecasts for growth in
Megastream traffic are now estimated at 50% per
annum. With the introduction of digital PBXs and the
networking of compituers throughout Euporpe, a
need can be identified for Nx2 Mbits/s services can
not be supported at all on existing plesiochronous
equipment.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
NETWORK
As demand increases for these services to be
provided on a PAN European for these services to be
provided on PAN European basis, work in taking place
on the concept of a Pan European Wideband Leased
Line Network (WBLLN). It is likely that such a
network will utilize the integration of managed
national networks based upon The SDH. Only the
SDH offers within realistic timescales. More
importantly it is only via the provision of NX2 Mbps
on an international basis that moves can be made
towards an International Broadband Communication
Network, IBCN.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES NETWORK

In physical term the network will appear in the form
shown in figure 5.8. The Services Access Point (SAP) will
be located near or possibly on the customers premises,
whilst the services Access Node will provide the 1.5
Mbits/s , 2 Mbps and Nx 2 Mbps cross connect facilities for
grooming to the MN layer. An overlay of high capacity
synchronous links would effectively be formed, to
interconnect the international nodes.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES NETWORK

With regards to management, the network Level

Control function shown in figure 5.8 may be

centralised or distributed. It would control the
elements of the transmission network to set up paths.
The service management function engages the
resources of this MTN to provide, reallocate and
charge for services to the customer. The setting up of
the paths across international boundaries will involve
peer to peer negotiation between Services Managers
according to agreed interworking standards.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT
The topic of network management is a complex one and

frequently means different things to different people. It is not

the ain of this presentation to delve into Network
Management to any great depth. However with the
introduction of the SDH, the management of tranmsision
network may be viewed In different context.

NM
With the emergence of the ISO OSI seven layer
reference model, as a basis for open standards, the
opportunity was seen to bring about interoperability
in the management of transmission networks. This
opportunity was not missed in the definition of the
SDH.

The SDH provide a method and format of

transmission designed for Network Management.

NM
This section will begin by describing the provions for

Transmission Management, made within the SDH Signal

Structure. This will be followed by a number of general
concept refardng the Mangement Hierarchy and Management
functionality. Finally the topic of open Network Management
Platform will be briefly be covered.

THE PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT PATH.

With reference to OSI 7-Layer reference model,
layer 1 of this model requires the difinition of
Physical path for commnications.

Within existing plesiochronous networks, no

provisions was made for a standard management
path within ITU-T recommendations. To overcome
the lack of a management channle, many
manufacturers developed propreitary systems,
based on either the use of spare bits within the
signal frmae or vial line coding methods similar
to those used in submarine systems.

THE PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT PATH.

Despite the restrictions on transmission rates,

some of the methods employed are capable of

superviosion and monitoring of equipment and to a
limited extent even remote configuration. The
major drawbacks with these systems revovle
around the fact that management is restrictred to
a channle which can only be accessed at a specifir
transmission rate e.g. 2 Mbits/s , 8 Mbits/s , 34
Mbtis/s, hence requireing mutiplexing to access it.
This restiction linits management to a section by
section facility. More importantly, it is possible for
inteworking to exist between diffent systems. It is
quire probable that one manufacturers equipment
will not even support a management channle
between two pieces of equipment for a third party.

THE PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT PATH.

With the introduction of a new method of

transmission, the SDH, the opportunity was taken

to implement tohe ideals embodied in the OSI 7
layer referenc emodel to difine a management
channel. This began with the definition of ovehead
capacity in the STM-1 frame, thus offering a difined
management channle of section by section
communication. This was extended further to
define overheads at the AU level and the TU level
thus providing management capacity over the core
of the transmission network and slaos a path
management channel associtated with a path
extending from end to end across an entire
network. This is bes t shown by studying Fig 6.1

THE PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT PATH.

It is this ability to provide path amangement to the VC-1

(2 Mbits/s) level which highlights a significant advance
in telecommunication management with the infroduction
of the SDH. However, the move towards management
standards did not stop at this point. ITU-T
recommendations G.783 and G.784 go on to propose
how the management channels should be used; referred
to as the Data Communication Channel (DCC) of
sometimes the Embedded Communication Channel
(ECC) and further propose the protocols which should be
employed for the remaining 6 layers of the OSI model.

THE PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT PATH.

In these clear definitions and in the continuing work of

the SDH study groups, the first major steps have been
taken towards the implementation of Open Network
Management System in the Telecommunication Industry.

MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY
Fig 6.2 shows a simplified model of the Network
Management Hierarchy. The definition of distinct levels
may vary due to system size and the management
strategy, however the principal structure remains the
same. The following section describe the Network Control
Layer , the element managemetn level of network
management , e.g the Service Management Layer, are
not described.

NETWORK CONTROL LAYER

At the network Control level the management system is

required to provide monitoring and control of a complete

management domain (e.g a subnetwork or possibly a
complete network.
The management system may also be required to
perform more analytical processing, such as performance
monitoring and cost analysis described in section 6.3.
In the early stages of deployment the NCL will be
required to communicate with a number of element
manages from a range of manufacturers. These element
managers may include systems providing supervision of
existing plesiochronus equipment via mediation devices.
With regards to the degree of funcitonality within the NCL
as with the other level of management, this vary. A
comparison is shown in Table 6.1

ELEMENT MANAGER LAYER

The element manger would provide many of the facilities
descibed within section 6.3. It would also be expected to
support addditonal management packafges to provide the
funcitons of financial, resource and maintenance analysis on
the information it collect.

ELEMENT MANAGER LAYER

Although the element management may reside within

a network element, it is more likely that it will be a

software package implemented on some operating
system/hardware platform. The size of the platform
and its capabilities may vary due to the need for
element manager to monitor and control various
sized domains. The management systems must
however offer the capability of migration form smaller
to larfer systems as a network expands.

NETWORK ELEMENTS
There is a degree of management which resides within the
elements themselves, and it is feasible that the element
manager for a particular management domin may physically
reside within a network element.

NETWORK ELEMENT
Basic fucntionality witin the element should include the

facilities listed in the subsequent section 6.3) applied to

the single element. In some circumstances the decision
may be taken to implement a distributed management
system whereby individual element s perform a high
degree of the functionality described. Such an
implementation has a number of advantage with
regards to the speed at which the network as a whole
can react to various events, in particular the case of
path restoration for protection purposes.

NETWORK ELEMENTS
The alternative is an element with a minimum functionality,
allowing management fucntins to be performed at the
Element Mangement Layer. A comparison of the benefits of
each strategy is shown in table. 6.1

FUNCTIONALITY OF NETWORK
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The classification of network management functions is
described in ISO as below. The functionality of the a
management system should include these features via the
initial systems with a provision for additional feature
packages or modules.

FUNCTIONALITY OF NETWORK
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Configuration Management
Fault Management
Performance management
Accounting Management.

FUNCTIONALITY OF NETWORK
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The resource manager is not restricted in its capabilities
to the management of SDH equipment only. Managed
objects defined in line with Open Network Standards
could extend to include the following items within its
management domain.
1- Network Element
2- Test Equipment
3- Manpower
4- Other Management Systems

FUNCTIONALITY OF NETWORK
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Such a management system would be expected not
only to manage synchronous network elements,
but also posses the ability to manage additional
equipment in the network via direct
communication or another management system.
Since many existing management systems are
propriety in nature, this infer the use of some type
of mediation device between the two systems. In
addition to the required functionality described
above , a management system would be expexted
to offer the ability to operate enhanced packeages
offering features for Traffic Analysis, Maintenance
costing,, Failure analysis etc.