NBN should cut splitters, amplify, and repeat

The Communications Alliance has release a draft technical paper on the passive fibre infrastructure behind the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The paper was developed by several working groups under the alliance and is pitched as a reference of “common understanding” for fibre networks.

According to the research, the NBN’s coverage can be boosted by reducing the number of optical splitters that provide network access to homes and businesses, and through the use of cutting edge laser optoelectonics, optical amplifiers and repeaters.

“Such approaches allow the Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) [to] reach 50 to 60kms while still connecting multiple subscribers,” the [[xref:http://commsalliance.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/22424/Draft_NBN_Optical_Access_Apr2010.pdf|report| NBN- Optical Access]] reads.

Communications Alliance CEO John Stanton called for industry feedback on the paper.

“The group should be congratulated on its work in documenting a shared understanding of optical network fundamentals,” Stanton said. “We look forward to receiving the industry’s feedback on this paper.”

According to the alliance, the paper addresses:

• Factors impacting the optical budget,
• Dimensioning parameters and optical budget calculations,
• General considerations for connectors versus splicing, and
• Testing.

Public submissions on the paper close on 7 May.

The Communications Alliance NBN lead, Dr Paul Brooks, recently told Computerworld Australia will still need to invest heavily in a fibre optic network to deliver on the goal of providing high-speed broadband to the population regardless of what happens at the next Federal election.

In the wake of the Federal Government celebrating the first birthday of its $43 billion project and comments from shadow communications minister, Tony Smith, that the plan was a “reckless adventure” Brooks said it was likely both parties retained the same goal of getting fast broadband to as much of the population as they can despite the project remaining highly politicized and under threat of being canned should power change hands.

“You’d have to think that the opposition would have an alternative strategy,” Brooks said at the time. “While they may not support the NBN in its current form and you could see that as a bit of tit for tat for what the current government did to the Opel project, they may well look to restart the Opel project or something similar. Either way I think we would get an alternative high-bandwidth network architecture vision and plan rolled out.”

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