Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Telecommunications
Technical Journal
January 2007
Bechtel Telecommunications
Technical Journal
Volume 5, Number 1 Contents
Foreword v
ADVISORY BOARD
Jake MacLeod, Principal Vice President and Editorial vii
Chief Technology Officer
S. Rasoul Safavian, PhD, Vice President of Technology, WiMAX™ IEEE 802.16e Plugfest and 1
Americas Regional Business Unit
Network Interoperability Testing: Overview and Path Forward
Brian Coombe, Program Manager,
Strategic Infrastructure Group
Esmael Dinan, PhD (Bechtel), and
Ed Agis, Asha R. Keddy, and Jeremy Rover (Intel)
EDITORIAL BOARD
GIS for Telecommunications 11
S. Rasoul Safavian, PhD, Editor-in-Chief Paul A. Lukas
Richard Peters, Senior Technical Editor
Teresa Baines, Senior Technical Editor
Barbara Oldroyd, Technical Editor
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) 19
Ruthanne Evans, Technical Editor Lee Lushbaugh and S. Rasoul Safavian, PhD
I
t is with great pleasure that I announce that this will be the last edition of the Bechtel Telecommunications
Technical Journal (BTTJ). No, we are not terminating the journal, but simply renaming it to coincide with the
renaming of Bechtel Telecommunications (a subsidiary of Bechtel Group, Inc.) to Bechtel Communications, Inc.
The new name reflects Bechtel's much broader scope of involvement in the communications arena. Beginning
with the next issue, the BTTJ will be renamed the Bechtel Communications Technology Journal (BCTJ ) to more
appropriately reflect its mission and objectives. Bechtel's technology activities continue to encompass the design
and implementation of traditional telecommunications; however, our current activities also include the design and
implementation of networks ranging from voice telecommunications to video broadcast to satellite to data to
broadband over power lines, and more.
The BCTJ will continue to provide a forum in which to address current technology issues of concern to the global
communications community; particularly, operational and network performance issues. The BCTJ will likewise
continue to provide a platform on which to introduce future technologies before deployment and to attempt to
identify functional and operational benefits and deficiencies. Bechtel Communications is vendor neutral and
technology agnostic, which positions us to provide an unbiased perspective of the technologies under evaluation, such
as broadband over power lines, service-oriented architecture, and coherent interferometric communications systems,
all addressed in this current issue.
This issue begins with a summary of the 5th WiMAX™ 802.16e Global Interoperability Plugfest, which the Bechtel
Communications Laboratories (BCL) hosted in our facilities in Frederick, Maryland, in September 2006.
This represents the first and only time the WiMAX IOT will be conducted in North America. Previous Plugfests were
held in Beijing, China; Málaga, Spain; and Sophia Antipolis, France. The Plugfest provided equipment vendors
an opportunity to test their latest 802.16e equipment for interoperability with other vendors’ equipment in a secure,
neutral environment.
Again, it is with great pleasure that we bring you the latest issue of the BTTJ. We encourage and welcome
your feedback regarding the journal. You can submit comments and suggestions for improvement by accessing the
Bechtel Telecoms Web page at www.bechteltelecoms.com and click on the “Contact Us” section. Past issues of the
BTTJ can be downloaded from our Technology Web page at www.bechteltelecoms.com/jsp/labs/pubs.jsp.
May your efforts be safe, productive, and prosperous.
Sincerely,
Jake MacLeod
Principal Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Bechtel Communications
C
hange—in technology and otherwise—is inevitable. In fact, it has been aptly said that the one thing constant
in life is change! Perhaps nowhere is change more rapid and profound today than in the technology arena.
Particularly in communications and information technology, extraordinary changes are occurring at a
record-breaking pace and scale. The prevalent example is mobile communications. From its analog introduction in
the early 1980s to its initial penetration rate of 10 million subscribers by the mid-1990s to its milestone penetration rate
of 1 billion subscribers by 2002 to its explosive growth to over 2 billion subscribers by 2006, its direct impact on
almost every aspect of daily life is truly astonishing! With all these rapid changes, it has become essential to
continuously ask: Where are we and where do we go from here? What technologies will prevail, and who will be
serving the next 2 billion subscribers?
At the BTTJ, one of our main missions is to provide insight into new trends and directions in communications and
information technology by examining the technical, operational, and regulatory issues surrounding existing and new
developments. The current issue opens with WiMAX™ IEEE 802.16e Plugfest and Network Interoperability Testing:
Overview and Path Forward. In this paper, Dinan, Agis, Keddy, and Rover highlight WiMAX interoperability
activities, including Plugfest and NWIOT, and look into a new open platform for NWIOT that can help
equipment manufacturers and service operators perform tests efficiently and cost-effectively. In the second paper,
GIS for Telecommunications, Lukas describes how GIS can be used effectively in communications network planning
and design as well as in outside plant operations and workflow optimization.
Next, Lushbaugh and Safavian examine the state of the emerging Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) technology. As a
third broadband avenue into homes and businesses (the other two being DSL and cable), electric power lines could
potentially provide broadband service to the 4 billion people on our planet who currently have access to them!
In the paper that follows, Coombe looks into Service-Oriented Architecture and its benefits to carriers in managing
networks and customers and deploying new services and applications.
We are also pleased to present two exciting invited papers. In Technical Aspects of Localization in Indoor
Wireless Networks, Kanaan, Heidari, Akgül, and Pahlavan examine challenges facing accurate indoor localization and
look into several estimation techniques and their associated qualities of estimators. In Fieldable Digital Coherent
Interferometric Communication and Sensing Application Domains, Shpantzer proposes a new paradigm based on a layered
architecture that unifies optical coherent communications and interferometric sensing. The proposed approach is
based on a digitally stabilized quadrature modulator and a homodyne receiver, augmented by digital noise
reduction and channel compensation algorithms.
In Solar Energy in Telecommunications, Torshizi and Niknam show how solar-energy-based systems can
provide robust, cost-effective alternative energy solutions to meet communications needs. Rounding out
this issue is cdma2000® Wireless Local Loop Evolution and Performance, in which Youell highlights how modern
WLL network performance could match that of DSL networks and how WLL can provide new means of
high-quality fixed and mobile broadband wireless access.
In closing, I hope you find this new edition of the BTTJ informative and useful. As always, I look forward to your
comments and contributions. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you—our readers—a very happy,
prosperous, and safe new year!
Happy Reading!
plans) at various test laboratories around the This paper presents an overview of WiMAX
world about every 4 months. Forum Plugfest and NWIOT initiatives and
proposes an open platform on which to perform
The WiMAX Forum’s network interoperability
tests.
testing (NWIOT) Task Group (TG) is made up of
representatives from the WiMAX Forum’s service
provider, network, marketing, and certification
working groups. The goal of the Network WiMAX FORUM PLUGFEST
Working Group (NWG) is to create the network
layer specifications for mobile WiMAX systems,
beyond what is defined in the scope of IEEE
A group test—commonly called a plugfest—is
one of several venues used by numerous
technology consortiums. A plugfest is one
802.16 (medium access control [MAC] and PHY). means of providing vendors an opportunity
to address potential ambiguities and to
The NWIOT TG is responsible for developing test
improve testing scenarios and capabilities for a
specifications for end-to-end network level
technology standard.
interoperability across all normative reference
points as applied across the network profiles WiMAX Forum Plugfests are typically week-long
defined in the NWG’s specifications. The CWG is events carried out at WiMAX Forum-contracted
responsible for the execution aspects, similar to testing sites primarily to validate and verify the
the role it plays in certification. interoperability of equipment among vendors [4].
A vendor is considered to be interoperable once it
• Make improvements for implementing F ive system test configurations were defined
and used at the Mobile Plugfest. A system
under test (SUT) is defined as a network
future group testing venues
consisting of one BS and one to three mobile
The WiMAX Forum Plugfest held from stations (MSs). The system includes, when
September 24 to October 1, 2006, was hosted necessary, monitoring devices such as a WiMAX
by Bechtel Telecommunications (Frederick, protocol analyzer and/or a vector signal analyzer
Maryland, USA) in collaboration with Centro de (VSA). The following specific configurations were
Tecnología de las Comunicaciones (Málaga, used at the Plugfest:
Spain)—newly renamed AT4 wireless—and the
WiMAX Forum. This was the fifth Plugfest • SUT1: Single BS + Single MS—one vendor
that the CWG conducted where service flows • SUT2: Single BS + Single MS—two vendors
for quality of service (QoS) traffic, network
entry procedures, and implementation on the • SUT3: Single BS + Two MSs (same vendor)
classification of data packets for mobile WiMAX
• SUT4: Single BS + Two MSs (different
were all achieved, as part of preparing WiMAX
vendors)
Forum certification testing for Wave 1 of mobile
WiMAX. While the focus of this venue was • SUT5: Single BS + Three MSs (three
predominantly mobile WiMAX, several vendors different vendors)
also demonstrated interoperability testing for
Devices in each SUT were interconnected by
nomadicity and portability.
wired means. QoS testing was conducted in terms
The event was organized as a cooperative of interoperability to emulate the real final user
agreement between Bechtel Telecommunications experience (i.e., transmitting data according to
and the WiMAX Forum. Bechtel provided the QoS parameters defined and checking that the
logistical and engineering services as the primary QoS of a service flow was not affected by other
host for this first WiMAX Forum Mobile Plugfest. best-effort [BE] data transmissions).
Multiple
Operators
Multi-sector Carriers want
ASN 2 Cell Site
Standalone CSN2 or to explore the
Incumbent IP Core
Some BS + AAA Gateway technical feasibility
All ASN GW (Radius/Diameter) Private IMS
Some BS Functions Network of network-level
Functions
SS2 interoperability,
Multiple ASN IP including
Vendor Network
Implementations
Single/Multi-sector
Ingress Router/ Egress Router/ end-to-end network
Gateway Firewall
Cell Site
ASN 3 testing scenarios.
WiMAX certification is not enough for many • For operators—A means to help with
wireless operators. economy of scale while reducing capital and
operational expenses. NWIOT also helps
To achieve full end-to-end interoperability, facilitate roaming.
the higher layers in the stack and network
interoperability need to be considered. • For vendors—More market opportunities
and economies of scale with WiMAX. (On a
Carriers seek to provide high-performance, high- cautionary note, the WiMAX Forum has to
reliability products and need assurance that all be careful to provide room for innovation
system nodes are operating as designed. They and differentiation.)
want to explore the technical feasibility of
network-level interoperability, including end-to- • For customers—Improved global roaming
end network testing scenarios. To achieve capabilities and reduced cost of service.
NWIOT, two things need to happen: As previously stated, the NWIOT program
1. There must be interoperability between crosses WiMAX Forum working groups,
different network elements across vendor involving the NWG, the Service Provider
implementations, also known as infra-
structure interoperability. This means that
the infrastructure elements in the network WiMAX
WiMAX
can interoperate. An example of infra- Network A User Device Network B
structure interoperability is an access service Testing
network from one vendor being able to hand
off to an access service network from another
vendor, as illustrated in Figure 3.
ASN
R1 Gateway R3
Base Station
R4
R1
R6
Base Station
ASN
Gateway
R3
R8
R1 R6
R4
Base Station
Figure 8. Example of WiMAX Coverage Plots and Actual Cell Site Photo for Over-the-Air NWIOT Activity
Abstract—The telecommunications industry is on the verge of a GIS revolution. Using a central corporate
database, a GIS can now serve customized data to sales, operations, engineering, customer service, and even the
customers themselves. What makes this possible is the ability of a GIS to reach into a database and extract spatial
information targeted to meet a user’s specific needs. This paper focuses on the use of GISs in the network
planning and design aspect of the telecommunications industry. In particular, the paper highlights the potential
applications of GIS in outside plant operations and the use of spatialized databases to improve workflow.
Key Words—geographic information systems, GIS, outside plant, spatial database, telecommunications
O ver the past 30 years, geographic These tools have also enabled engineers to plan
information systems (GISs) have evolved and optimize changes to existing deployments,
from vector-based, computer-aided mapping letting them view in real time the theoretical
tools to fully integrated spatial solutions results of potential changes. Most of the early
platforms. The GIS has become a jack-of-all- network propagation tools were designed around
trades with capabilities ranging from interactive a GIS platform, linking GIS and network
Web-based mapping services to three- planning, sometimes without the user’s knowing
dimensional desktop modeling and analysis. The that a GIS was involved or what it was. [3]
mapping service buzz words these days are However, adoption of GISs by the
Google Earth™, Yahoo! ® maps, and Microsoft ® telecommunications industry as a whole is still
Virtual Earth™ [1]. These online mapping incomplete. We are realizing the benefits of
applications have changed the way we live and geospatial data analysis, but integration could be
work with maps by providing new sources for progressing faster.
research and data gathering through access to
high-resolution aerial imagery and point-of-
interest data, combined with old-fashioned WHAT IS A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM?
A
address locators. The fascination with these GIS is commonly perceived as a single
flashy applications has left us with a technology, usually a software application,
reinvigorated interest in discovering what else used to create and display cartographic
a GIS can do for us. information. In practice, however, a GIS consists
of five components: software, data, procedures,
The GIS has long been embraced by sciences and
hardware, and people. These five components
industries as diverse as demographics, medicine,
work together to capture, store, retrieve, analyze,
utilities, agriculture, urban planning, biology,
and display geographically referenced
advertising, and transportation. The utilities
information. While computer-aided design
industry, in particular, was an early adopter of
(CAD) and mapping applications can display
GISs in the form of automated mapping/facilities
spatial information, a GIS has the added
management (AM/FM) applications [2]. But
capability to analyze spatial data through
where does telecommunications fit into all
attribute and location analysis or spatial
Paul A. Lukas of this?
modeling. Adding a relational database further
palukas@bechtel.com The wireless industry quickly embraced GISs as enhances the capability of a GIS to solve
radio propagation modeling tools, allowing complicated spatial problems. [4]
network engineers to rapidly estimate coverage
B eyond the many uses of a GIS in The major GIS vendors are touting
telecommunications applications, the greatest telecommunications applications and plug-ins for
power of a GIS lies in its ability to spatialize and wireless and outside plant design and
integrate databases. The basic data element of a maintenance. At the same time, major
GIS is a data table. Geographic features and telecommunications service providers with
attribute data alike are stored in flat tables similar custom-built legacy databases are being locked
to most existing database formats. It is widely into dealing with specific contractors that are
accepted that 80 percent of all data has a familiar with the software. The contractors
geographic component. The ability to visually dealing with these legacy databases, which lack
assess the locations of objects on the Earth’s the flexibility to integrate and analyze multiple
surface, rather then trying to interpret numbers data sources, are forced to jump through hoops to
on spreadsheets, is a key element leading to the work with these systems and to reinvent the
use of a GIS in the first place. wheel project after project. In the process, they
[1] R. Paul, “Microsoft Launches Virtual Earth 3D Before joining Bechtel, Paul worked for Wireless
to try to take on Google” Facilities, Inc., where he provided dedicated
(http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/ geospatial support services for AT&T Wireless and
10224.html). assisted in creating a GIS-based wireless network
[2] S. Smith, “AM/FM + GIS + Web,” optimization tool.
GISVision magazine, December 1999. Paul began his studies in GIS at the Virginia Polytechnic
[3] S. DuPlessis, “Geoinformation: University and earned a BS in Technical Management
A Singular Advantage in a Cellular Age” from DeVry University. He is a member of the
(http://www.geoplace.com/ge/ Armed Forces Communications and Electronics
2000/0500/0500gf.asp). Association (AFCEA).
[4] K.C. Clarke, Analytical and Computer Cartography,
Prentice Hall, 1995.
[5] B. Schweber, “With the Right Tools, You
Can Score Big in the RF Field of Dreams,”
EDN magazine, July 6, 2000.
[6] D. McCullough, “Four Options to Extend Your
Broadband Service Revenues,” OSP magazine,
October 2005.
[7] L. Godin, GIS in Telecommunications,
ESRI Press, 2001.
[8] Personal interview with Bechtel network
engineer, October 2006.
[9] S. Rich, A. Das, and C. Kroot, “Spatial Data
Management in an Enterprise GIS”
(http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc01/
professional/papers/pap742/p742.htm).
Abstract—The Internet’s proliferation has focused attention on the importance of providing widespread
access to broadband services. Many studies show that such access can have profound positive socioeconomic
impacts. Currently, however, broadband access is available to relatively few people worldwide. Broadband
access has traditionally been provided via either DSL or cable. More recently, wireless and satellite broadband
access has also gained significant momentum. Now, a third—wired—option is emerging: broadband over
power lines (BPL).
Power lines, however, were designed to deliver power, not communications, which poses three main hurdles for
BPL. First, the variation in power line channel characteristics and performance over time and location must be
appropriately considered. Second, measures must be put into place to ensure that BPL does not cause
interference for the existing rightful owners of the spectrum. Third, the regulatory issues accompanying any
new technology must be addressed.
As these hurdles are overcome, as standards mature, and as inexpensive standards-based equipment becomes
more widely available, the concerns about the risks of BPL investment and deployment will gradually diminish.
Then, the right business and deployment models will enable BPL to capture a significant portion of the thriving
broadband market.
Key Words—access BPL, BPL, broadband over power lines, capacity, channel characteristics, coupler,
extractor, FCC, injector, in-house BPL, interference, low voltage (LV) line, medium voltage (MV) line, noise,
NTIA, Part 15, PLC, power line communications, repeater, Subpart G, transformer bypass
T here are two basic means of providing make widespread usage of wireless broadband
communications services: wireless or wireline. relatively difficult and expensive!
On the wireless side, the main hurdle is On the wireline side, there are currently two
scarceness of radio frequency (RF) spectrum and means of providing broadband services: digital
the associated huge cost. In the US, spectrum is subscriber line (DSL) through telephone company
viewed as a scarce national resource, closely telephone lines, and cable modem through cable
guarded by the Federal Communications company coaxial cable lines. Now, with the
Commission (FCC). Based on the FCC’s personal advent of broadband over power lines (BPL or
communications services (PCS) auctions, the BoPL), a third wired option is emerging that uses
median value of 1 MHz of spectrum per pop was electric utility power lines. Power lines are
around US$1.68 [1]. Simple math shows that attractive for communications purposes because
a bare minimum of 10 MHz of spectrum they have an omnipresence that reaches most
Lee Lushbaugh
(a pair of 5 MHz, enough for only one channel homes and businesses, even in the most rural
llushbau@bechtel.com areas. This ubiquity implies a possible reduction
of current frequency division duplex [FDD]
technologies such as universal mobile in both time and cost for broadband deployment.
S. Rasoul telecommunications system [UMTS]) that In this sense, power lines, like RF spectrum, can
Safavian, PhD covers 300 million US pops could cost close to be considered a very valuable national resource,
US$5 billion! And there is the cost of deploying or even a national treasure. And, of course, there
srsafavi@bechtel.com
the network. On top of this, there are the ongoing is the inside-home power line wiring that can
site rental or lease fees, which, on a nationwide literally turn every outlet plug into a broadband
basis, could translate to hundreds of millions communications access port.
Medium Voltage
Power Transmission Lines
Substation
Power Plant
Low Voltage
Power Transmission Lines
Substation
Medium Voltage
Transmission Lines
High Voltage Transmission Primary Distribution Medium Voltage Secondary Distribution Low Voltage
(69 kV and Above) (2.4 to 35 kV) (Up to 600 V)
Internet
Mobile
Network PSTN
LV Lines
Backhaul Network Backhaul MV
Box MV Lines
Lines
LV Coupler
MV Coupler MV
MV
Coupler Coupler
Repeater Transfer
MV Box Bypass PC
Power Substation Lines Box VoIP
Phone
HV
Transmission Lines
Power Generator
MV
Coupler
LV
MV Line
Line LV Lines to
Transformer Homes/Businesses
LV
Coupler
Coax LV Line to
Home/Business
Transfer
Bypass
Box
Option 1
Transformer
Bypass System
Coupler
Option 3
Wireless Connection
Option 2
Through
Transformer
Benefits to Electric Utilities The explosive growth of the Internet and the
For the electric utility companies, BPL’s benefits recent deregulation of telecommunications in the
are twofold: (1) It can create new sources of US and Europe have led to the renewed interest
revenue from an existing investment, and in BPL. Extensive research on BPL channel
(2) it can help create a smart grid for the utility modeling [13–20] and a considerable amount of
companies that would enable enhanced utility interference analysis [21–25] have taken place.
applications [11, 12] such as: Concurrently, there have been a large number
of field trials and measurements to validate
• System monitoring from any point on the various models [21–31], along with advances in
electric grid signal processing such as the newer adaptive
modulation and coding techniques [28] and
• Load shifting and balancing
faster, cheaper processors and electronics.
• Optimized asset utilization and management Nonetheless, despite its renewed attractiveness,
BPL must overcome implementation challenges
• Performance of preventive maintenance and
as well as regulatory concerns before it can
improvement of service reliability and
become a viable avenue of broadband access. The
customer satisfaction by avoiding power
next sections of this paper examine in more
outages and emergencies
detail the key implementation challenges and
• Advanced supervisory control and data regulatory concerns facing BPL.
acquisition (SCADA)
The FCC basically decided to keep BPL under – The proposed or actual date of access
existing Part 15 unlicensed device rules and BPL operation
added Subpart G for access BPL. More • Interference Mitigation and Avoidance:
specifically, Sections 15.601, 15.607, 15.611, and Access BPL systems are basically required to
15.613 of this new Subpart include the following adhere to the NTIA recommendations for
new rules: interference mitigation and avoidance
mentioned above.
• Exclusion Bands: These are certain bands
of frequencies within which access BPL • Field Limits: Access BPL systems that
operations are not permitted. operate in the 1.705-to-30-MHz band over
MV lines must comply with the radiation
• Exclusion Zones: These are certain
limits for intentional radiators provided in
geographic areas within which access
Section 15.209. Systems operating in the
BPL operations are not allowed.
)
(R
og
0l
Sl
r4
an
0o
tR
2
an
at
ge
e
lat
a po
Ring E xtr
Antenna
Antenna Height
Access Method
BPL $1,007
E
DSL $828 ven though the importance and direct
As the regulatory socioeconomic impact of access to broadband
uncertainties and Wireless $800 services are well understood, currently only
0 400 800 1,200 1,600 2,000 4 percent of the Earth’s population has access
interference issues
to some type of broadband services, typically
surrounding Deployment Cost per Subscriber ($)
via DSL or cable modem. BPL offers a new,
BPL dissipate, and potentially powerful alternative means of
with the success of Figure 6. Deployment Costs for
providing high-speed Internet services, VoIP, and
Different Access Technologies
many field trials and other broadband services to homes and
which compares deployment costs for various businesses by using existing MV and LV power
early commercial
broadband technologies [36, 37]. See Figure 6. lines. Because roughly 60 percent of Earth’s
deployments, inhabitants have access to power lines, BPL could
the release of It is also interesting to note that, even though play a significant role in bridging the existing
various standards, deploying BPL in rural areas could be less digital divide. But the success of BPL, like
expensive than deploying DSL, cable, or fiber, it that of any new technology in its infancy,
and the growing may still be prohibitively expensive per capita. depends on more than strong theoretical
availability of With this in mind, BPL operators may choose, results or successful field testing. It also depends
reasonably priced instead, to compete with DSL, cable, and other greatly on the appropriate business models and
standardized and service providers in suburban and urban areas deployment plans.
where some sort of broadband services already
reliable equipment, exists. Ironically, this would defeat the main As the regulatory uncertainties and interference
the road to BPL reason that the FCC adopted BPL: to accelerate issues surrounding BPL dissipate, and with the
is becoming the availability of broadband services in success of many field trials and early commercial
underserved areas. Furthermore, prior experience deployments, the release of various standards,
increasingly and the growing availability of reasonably priced
and research have shown that BPL service
well paved. needs to be either significantly better (e.g., have standardized and reliable equipment, the road
higher user throughputs), cheaper, or both, to to BPL is becoming increasingly well paved
be able to convince subscribers to change and broadband over power lines seems to be
existing services to BPL or to attract new well energized. Indeed, BPL’s future looks
subscribers to this new technology. very bright!
[12] J.M. Bradbury, “Broadband over Power Lines [25] L.S. Cohen, J.W. de Graaf, A. Light, and F. Sabath,
a Foundation for the Utility of the Future,” “The Measurement of Broadband over Power
Energy Summit 2006 (http://www.enrg.lsu.edu/ Line Emissions,” Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE
conferences/energysummit2006/ International Symposium on Electromagnetic
Jay_Bradbury_2.pdf). Compatibility (EMC 2005), Chicago, IL, Vol. 3,
pp. 988–991.
Abstract—Service-oriented architecture creates a framework wherein applications can use standardized Web
services to share data. Using standardized Web services eliminates the need for proprietary, custom-developed
middleware to specifically address how particular applications speak to one another. Eliminating middleware
significantly reduces the cost and complexity of enterprise networks. Telecommunications service providers can
build on the gains realized in enterprise architectures. Carriers benefit from deploying these architectures, both
in managing their networks and customers and in deploying new services and applications.
Key Words—application integration, distributed architecture, IMS, OSS/BSS, service-oriented architecture,
SOA, Web services
INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND
(see Figure 1). An additional process within this information flowing in the opposite direction.
custom interface software, or a separate piece of This deployment scenario is known as tight
software, is also required to convert the integration of applications [2].
S
of software to be executed and maintained, OA focuses on the perspective that software
adding to software and hardware cost, as seen in applications are services that support a
Figure 2. Each new release of software must particular business process. Fundamental to the
undergo detailed evaluation to ensure that any concept of SOA are standards that determine how
changes to data structures are understood. For these services are built, maintained, and used in
any changes identified, the software interfaces the network. By defining a standard and
must be modified; the process of executing, requiring adherence to it, SOA helps to address
testing, and troubleshooting issues slows the the issues outlined earlier in describing a tightly
deployment of new software and adds cost for integrated network.
the enterprise. An enterprise may face the choice
of waiting to roll out new software or spending The SOA concept revolves primarily around the
thousands of dollars to update interface software use of Web services to facilitate communications
among applications. Web services generally use a Since
to address changes in a new release [3].
language based on extensible markup language Web services
The complexity of tightly integrated applications (XML) to both standardize data formats and are platform-
only increases as more applications are added. exchange information. The language is referred to
For example, turning to the business transaction independent and
as Web services description language (WSDL).
discussed earlier, the enterprise may wish to Both XML and WSDL are World Wide Web application-
introduce a third software application, such as an Consortium (W3C®) standards, allowing the SOA transparent, even a
inventory system, into the existing purchasing framework to use data formats put in place by sweeping change,
and accounting systems. Integrating this others.
application with both existing systems will such as wholesale
require two additional software interfaces to be Using WSDL, system architects create a method replacement of
specified, developed, deployed, and maintained. for communications among applications that is
an application,
A firm can quickly expend a great amount of fundamentally independent of the underlying
platforms and programming languages. The can be done
both financial and human resources on
developing and maintaining all of these software method created is then advertised to the while remaining
interfaces [4]. network as a “service,” a step referred to as invisible to the
“exposing” or “revealing” the application in an
Fortunately for those enterprises seeking to use users and the
SOA framework [5].
and leverage the model of integrated software architecture.
applications, the development of the Internet and Simple object access protocol (SOAP) is generally
the World Wide Web has led to better solutions used by computers to implement SOA. SOAP
with the emergence of SOA. Using a concept specifies how a computer using hypertext
known as Web services, SOA is a model for loose transport protocol (HTTP) and XML can execute
integration of disparate applications. a program call to another computer; it also
specifies how the program on the other computer
Custom
Interface
Custom Custom
Interface Interface
Purchasing System Accounting System
Inventory System
BIOGRAPHY
Brian Coombe joined Bechtel
Telecommunications in 2003.
Currently, as program manager
of the Strategic Infrastructure
Group, a pivotal unit of the
Bechtel Federal Telecoms
organization, Brian manages
a program that involves
telecommunications systems
and critical infrastructure
modeling, simulation, analysis, and testing. He
evaluates government telecommunications markets,
formulates requirements for telecommunications and
water infrastructure work, and develops the Strategic
Infrastructure Group’s scope.
S erious research in the field of outdoor their missions inside buildings. Accurate indoor
positioning first began in the 1960s, when localization is also an important part of
several US government agencies, including the various personal robotics applications [4] and of
Department of Defense (DoD), National context-aware computing [5]. More recently,
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), location sensing has found applications in
and Department of Transportation (DOT), location-based handoffs in wireless networks [6],
expressed interest in developing systems for location-based ad hoc network routing [7],
position determination [1]. The result, known as and location-based authentication and security.
the Global Positioning System (GPS), is the most Many of these applications require low-cost, low-
popular positioning system used today. Activity power terminals that can be easily deployed with
in this area has continued since cellular networks little or no planning; this is the basis for
Muzaffer Kanaan 1, 2
began to flourish in the 1990s, driven largely by developments in ad hoc sensor networks. Recent
muzaffer.kanaan
regulatory requirements (such as E-911) for developments in integrated circuit (IC)
@verizon.com
position estimation. technology and micro-electromechanical systems
Mohammad Heidari2 (MEMSs) have made it possible to realize such
While these developments were taking place,
mheidari@wpi.edu similar research and development (R&D) began low-cost, low-power terminals. As a result, in the
in the field of indoor positioning (also known as next few years, scores of new applications for
Ferit Ozan Akgül 2
localization or location estimation), driven by indoor localization will undoubtedly emerge.
ferit@wpi.edu
emerging applications in the commercial, public Unfortunately, positioning techniques developed
Professor Kaveh safety, and military arenas. Commercial for GPS and cellular networks generally do not
Pahlavan, PhD 2 applications range from tracking inventory in a work well indoors. A primary reason is the signal
kaveh@wpi.edu warehouse to tracking children, the elderly, and attenuation caused by building walls. In addition,
1 Verizon Laboratories people with special needs [2]. Location-sensitive indoor radio channels exhibit much stronger
2 Center for Wireless Web-browsing and interactive tour guides for multipath characteristics than outdoor channels.
Information Network museums are other examples [3]. In the public
Studies (CWINS), Furthermore, the accuracy requirements for
Worcester Polytechnic safety and military arenas, very accurate indoor indoor positioning systems are typically much
Institute positioning is required to help emergency higher than those for outdoor systems. For an
workers and military personnel effectively outdoor application such as E-911, an accuracy
of 125 m 67 percent of the time is considered order of a few meters might be acceptable. In
acceptable [8], while a similar indoor application contrast, much higher accuracy is needed for
typically requires an accuracy level on the order location estimates used in a public safety or
of a few meters [9]. For all of these reasons, new military application (such as situational
methods of position estimation need to be awareness systems). This makes it critical to
developed for the indoor setting. characterize the quality of estimation (QoE) of a
given location estimation system. QoE is a
Another factor to be considered is that the
function of the particular algorithm used to
required degree of location estimation accuracy is
estimate location, the quality of the information
typically application dependent. For example, in
available to the algorithm, impairments
an application such as inventory tracking in a
introduced by the channel, and suboptimal
large warehouse, estimation accuracy on the
coverage conditions that are an ever-present
reality in any wireless network.
There are two main sources of ranging error: where Gmw ,σw and GmUDP,w ,σ UDP,w are the
multipath effects and undetected direct path Gaussian random variables (RVs) that refer to
multipath-based and UDP-based ranging error,
respectively. The subscript w in both cases
denotes the BW dependence. The parameter ζ is a
binary RV that denotes the presence or absence of
UDP conditions, with a probability density
function (PDF) given as:
1.0 1.0
Infinite BW Infinite BW
0.9 BW = 300 MHz 0.9 BW = 100 MHz
BW = 200 MHz BW = 50 MHz
0.8 0.8
BW = 100 MHz BW = 10 MHz
0.7 0.7
0.6 0.6
Bandwidth
Bandwidth
0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4
0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2
0.1 0.1
0 0
-5 0 5 10 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Distance Distance
(a) (b)
COVERAGE EFFECTS
Received Signal Strength
RSS is a simple metric that can be measured and
reported by most wireless devices. For example, S uboptimal coverage conditions exist in just
about every type of wireless network. Just
as the performance of an indoor wireless
the medium access control (MAC) layer of the
IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system can be affected by
standard provides RSS information from all coverage deficiencies (manifested in ways such as
active access points (APs) in a quasi-periodic degradation of voice quality or data throughput),
beacon signal that can be used as a metric for an indoor localization system can be similarly
localization [16]. RSS can be used in two ways for affected if an adequate number of location
localization purposes, as discussed next. metrics cannot be obtained. In fact, some
algorithms, such as those using least-squares (LS)
If the RSS decays linearly with the log-distance techniques, cannot be applied if the number of
between the transmitter and receiver, it is RPs seen by the user is less than three. This
possible to map an observed RSS value to a implies that location estimation systems have to
be robust enough to operate with a lack of
information. This is the motivation behind
algorithms such as the coverage map search
(CMS) algorithm discussed in the next section.
L
x
X
RP-1 RP-2
L
Σ ⎞⎟⎠d – (x – Xk )2 + ( y – Yk )2⎞⎟
N 2 error (MSE):
e (x,y) = (10)
k=1
k
⎠
MSEpos = E {⏐⏐Rest – Ract⏐⏐ }
2
(11)
where d k is the range measurement from the k-th
RP, N is the total number of RPs with which the
where Rest is the estimated location of the user
user can communicate, and (Xk, Yk) are the
and Ract is the actual location.
coordinates of the k-th RP.
If the number of RPs used in a TOA-based system
The primary advantage of the CMS algorithm is
is known, the CDF of the MSE can be used to
that it can be used with any number of range
gauge performance across different building
measurements, whereas other algorithms, such as
types. This concept, known as the MSE Profile
LS, require a minimum of three range
[27], uses the fact that for a given number of RPs,
measurements. The main characteristic of the
different building configurations give rise to
CMS algorithm is that it requires a central
differing numbers of UDP conditions.
T
over an indoor area of a known size, where the his paper has presented a technical overview
number of RPs and the location estimation of indoor localization (also known as indoor
algorithm are given. Assume that the MSE cannot location estimation) systems. Indoor location
exceed a certain value, MSEmax , at all points in the estimation is a relatively new area of research that
area. This requirement implies that the ranging will be an important enabler of future location-
error itself needs to be below a certain maximum aware indoor wireless networks. Before this can
value. Based on these pieces of information, an happen, however, a number of important
upper bound can be calculated on the required problems must be solved in terms of optimizing
ranging error at all points. The results of algorithm performance and characterizing QoE.
calculating and plotting this bound over a Once this is accomplished, the future holds many
20 x 20 m area for four RPs and for five RPs are different applications for indoor location
QoE shown in Figure 11 and Figure 12, respectively. estimation technology.
depends on These figures also clearly depict the dependence
of the estimation accuracy on geometry effects.
geometry
effects.
0.105
d_4 d_3
Range Measurement MSE
0.100
RP-4 RP-3
0.095
0.090
20 m
d_1 d_2 0.085
0.080
0.075
x 20
RP-1 RP-2 15 20
10 15
20 m 10
5 5
y (m) 0 0 x (m)
Figure 11. Upper Bound on Range Measurement MSE over All Points in a 20 x 20 m Area for Four RPs
1.25
Range Measurement MSE
Figure 12. Upper Bound on Range Measurement MSE over All Points in a 20 x 20 m Area for Five RPs
Abstract—A layered architecture unifying optical coherent communications and interferometric sensing via a
digitally stabilized quadrature modulator and a homodyne receiver, augmented by digital noise reduction and
channel compensation algorithm stacks, forms a new paradigm for coherent fieldable applications.
Key Words—coherent communications, integrated optics devices, laser sensors
T o recapture the benefits that digital signal shown for clarity) and each is mixed with a local
processors (DSPs) have established in a oscillator in an optical 90° hybrid. The hybrid
variety of radio frequency (RF) application accepts the signal S and the local oscillator L and
domains in recent decades, it is necessary to produces four outputs: (i) S+L, (ii) S-L, (iii) S+jL,
operate on the optical field vector as opposed to and (iv) S-jL. Each optical output pair, (i)–(ii)
the optical energy. This approach enables digital and (iii)–(iv), is collected by a pair of
coherent communications and interferometric matched photodiodes whose photocurrents
sensing applications to be deployed. However, are subtracted to produce output currents
it also requires overcoming a myriad of proportional to |S+L|2 - |S-L|2 = 4 · Re{SL*} and
technological and architectural challenges. This |S+jL|2 - |S-jL|2 = 4 · Im{SL*}; together, these
paper describes proposed solutions. Reference [1] construct the complex value SL*.
discusses the key methods used by secure digital ____________________________
coherent free-space optical communications for 1 CeLight specializes in the research, development, and
tactical applications. sales of advanced opto-electronic subsystems, algorithms,
and architectures used in standoff detection of explosives,
Figure 1 depicts an integrated homodyne receiver chemicals, and trace gases; secure and robust optical
communications; coherent LADAR and vibrometry; target
fabricated and tested by CeLight1. The received identification, discrimination, and tracking; opto-electronic
optical signal is split into two (arbitrary) warfare and signal intelligence; and medical diagnostics.
Frequency
Amplitude Phase Balanced Signal Boosted
Detectors by Local
Polarization and TIAs Oscillator Phase
j(ωt+ φ )
{
S+L
S=Ase H Optical Hybrid R{SL*}= AlAs cos( φ )
. Analog-to-Digital
Signal S-L I(t) Conversion
. Digital Processing
L=A e jωtH S+jL I{SL*}= AlAs sin( φ )
l . Advanced Algorithms
Local Oscillator Q(t)
S-jL
Isaac
Shpantzer, PhD
CeLight, Inc.
IShpantzer@celight.com
Figure 1. Digital Coherent Integrated Homodyne Receiver for Linear Transformation of Encoded Optical Signal to Baseband
(Top view shows fabricated device; tested device is shown at bottom right. For simplicity, only one polarization is shown.)
A
The key advantages of this coherent detection unified layered architecture for fieldable
scheme are: digital coherent interferometric communi-
• The received signal is boosted by the local cations and sensing is depicted in Figure 2. The
oscillator to obtain the highest shot-noise layered architecture is based on two integrated
limited receiver sensitivity. optical components that enable the embodiment
Integrated
Components
Figure 2. Unified Layered Architecture for Fieldable Digital Coherent Interferometric Communications and Sensing
90 90
2.0 1.0
120 60 120 60 0.5
0.8
1.5 0.4 Bias 1 - π
0.6 Bias 2 - π
Biases and Phase Error (π)
–0.2
240 300 240 300 0 10 20 30 40 50
270 270 Iteration Number
Figure 3. (a) Constellation Plots of QM Optical Output at Startup; (b) Constellation Plots After 50 Iterations of the Control Loop;
(c) Deviations of the Two Biases and the Phase from Their Optimal Points (ππ and π/2) Versus Iteration Number
Co-locating the ADAPTIVE NOISE REDUCTION ALGORITHMS • Standoff Chemical Warfare Detection and
Chemical Plant Monitoring: Similar to
synthesizer and
analyzer with an R eference [1] discusses digital adaptive noise
reduction algorithms that compensate for
various physical phenomena. Figure 4(a)
standoff explosive detection but using a
tunable laser to excite the trace gas molecules.
optical local
schematically shows the architectural approach as • Coherent Optical Fence: The pinpointing of
oscillator derived applied to channel compensation of air turbulence the incident location of an intrusion by
from the for free-space coherent QPSK communications. sensing the minute phase changes along a
transmitting laser Figure 4(b) shows simulated results of a free- fiber (laid underground to protect the
space QPSK optical link operating over a perimeter of a valuable installation) that
turns the
high-speed turbulent channel before and after result from vibrations, magnetic field,
transponder adaptive noise reduction, as well as the time electrical field, temperature, etc. This is the
configuration into convergence track. equivalent of a multisensor distributed fence
an interferometric using common communications fiber.
sensing system that • 3-D Coherent Vibrometry: The ability to
INTERFEROMETRIC SENSING APPLICATIONS
enables a variety of identify typical Eigen-vibrations by
application
domains.
C o-locating the synthesizer and analyzer with
an optical local oscillator derived from the
transmitting laser turns the transponder
measuring the minute phase changes
resulting from target vibrations in three
dimensions. This enables the discrimination
configuration into an interferometric sensing
between dummy and real nuclear warheads
system that enables a variety of application
in ballistic space or the identification of
domains, all of which use a unified layered
vehicles (friend or foe) on the ground.
High-Speed ~
X=IV+jQV+IHjQH ASIC X=Iv+jQv+IHjQH 180 0 180 0
(XWH)
210 330 210 330
H
Optical X=IV+jQV+IHjQH W
Homodyne Receiver 240 300 240 300
Input Filter Coefficients 270 270
Figure 4. (a) Embodiment of Digital Adaptive Algorithms; (b) Performance of Channel Equalization Algorithm over Turbulent Atmospheric Channel
Abstract—Solar energy systems are increasingly used for a variety of applications, among them new
telecommunication converging technologies, the focus of this paper. Several examples of the use of solar energy
systems for different telecommunication scenarios are discussed. Because solar energy systems are robust and
cost effective, the demand for solar power in telecommunications will continue to grow.
Key Words—insolation, irradiance, mesh network, Niue, photovoltaic, solar cell, solar energy, solar Wi-Fi,
solar WiMAX, telecommunication
S olar energy has proven to be a reliable This growing popularity is also attributable to the
and economical method of powering fact that people living in or traveling to many
telecommunication systems in places where remotely located rural areas simply have no other
conventional electricity is unavailable or choice in service.
impractical. It provides an excellent source of
clean, reliable power to keep batteries charged.
ELECTRICITY GENERATION THROUGH
This paper contains a brief description of
SOLAR CELLS
photovoltaic (PV) cells and provides examples of
new technologies for which solar power is—if not
the only option—an excellent choice of energy. P V or solar cells are semiconductor devices
that convert sunlight into direct current
electricity, bypassing thermodynamic cycles and
As the world's telecommunication networks are mechanical generators. When light photons of
extended and upgraded, rural communication sufficient energy strike a solar cell, they knock
services come into greater focus. Because site electrons free in the silicon crystal structure,
access is often difficult and connection to a forcing them through an external circuit and then
central electricity grid is seldom possible, a stand- returning them to the other side of the solar cell to
alone power system is required in rural areas. start the process all over again. See Figure 1.
Such a system must be cost effective, simple to
maintain, and reliable.
As the importance of
wireless communication
technologies grows, new Sunlight
demands are placed
on solar power. Solar
Antireflection Coating
power is also playing
an important role in Transparent Adhesive Front Contact
Current
powering the world’s Cover Glass
Glenn A. Torshizi converging telecommu-
Electron
gtorshiz@bechtel.com nication markets.
Solar Irradiance
Module
AC Loads DC Loads
Backup Power
From Mains Tower
(Optional) Gell Cell Sealed
240 VAC 150 AH 12 Volt
With solar-powered
wireless APs, Charger
12 Volt Wi-Fi
Inverter
those responsible Equipment
4,800 baud over dial-up service. By 2005, for the tower installation to gain new life
Hakupu's Internet users were looking to local as a solar-powered Wi-Fi station. Hakupu’s
Wi-Fi as a solution, though they were 7 miles newfound ability to surf the net with much
distant from a satellite earth station, the greater speed and reliability soon led to requests
nearest AP. from other outlying villages in Niue for similar
Fortunately for the people of Hakupu, an service. Solar-powered units like Hakupu’s
abandoned tower nearby was identified as could be the answer.
suitable for use in bringing Wi-Fi coverage from Figure 5 shows the basic wiring diagram for
the earth station 7 miles away. The 120-foot the solar-powered Wi-Fi repeater station and AP
tower, with no electricity at the site, had seemed in Niue [2].
to hold little prospect for useful service. Instead,
St. Louis Park, Minnesota—First Solar-Powered
the circumstances became the perfect equation
Wi-Fi Community in the US
St. Louis Park, a Minneapolis suburb of about
44,000, recently became the first US community to
agree to city-wide deployment of solar-powered
Solar Module Wi-Fi service. After a phased-in installation, the
entire network is slated to be on line by
July 2007 [3]. St. Louis Park’s service will be
powered by about 400 solar panels suspended
20 to 30 feet in the air on public rights-of-way,
such as roadsides. Each panel is 805 square
Wi-Fi inches—about the size of a stop sign, but
rectangular and black. See Figure 6.
Wireless
Network
CPE
Authenticator
802.11x
L2 Authenticator
CPE Has
PC Has Network IP
Network IP Provided by
Designated
St. Louis Park PC
PC Must Non-Routing
Authenticate Management
Partner IP
VoIP
IP-Based IP/Hi-Def Terrestrial Network Operations Center Hi-Speed IP Digital Enhanced PDA
Cellular Phone Television Infrastructure Command and Control Broadband Service Cordless “All-In-One”
Augmentation Uplink/Downlink Telecommunications Device
51%
CAPEX total $2,584,621 63% 33%
Figure 11. Subscriber Willingness to Switch to St. Louis Park Wireless Service [10]
Abstract—WLL, once only a simple wireless replacement for copper wires, has evolved with the ever-changing
technology and market demands. Through the evolution of CDMA to cdma2000 ® , EV-DO, and eventually
EV-DO Revision C, and with performance approaching or equal to current DSL networks, WLL is no longer
limited to only voice service in remote regions. Fixed and mobile broadband wireless access is the new “WLL.”
Key Words—1xEV-DO, 1xEV-DO Revision A, 1xEV-DO Revision B, all-IP-based architecture, broadband
wireless access, cdma2000 evolution, CDMA/cdma2000, FWT, multicarrier CDMA, VoIP over 1xEV-DO,
wireless local loop, WLL
Nathan T. Youell
ntyouell@bechtel.com
Cost—The main cost advantage of using wireless Although adhering to the standard wireless
technologies to deploy the “last mile” to design criteria (such as coverage requirements,
subscribers accrues from not having to deploy terrain conditions, capacity, and interference),
potentially costly outside plant infrastructure. A WLL networks offer certain advantages over their
wireless site is limited by its coverage area and mobile counterparts. First, WLL deployments do
capacity. Within these limits, there is a fixed cost not need to be contiguous. In other words, it is
per subscriber. With copper and fiber cables, on not necessary to worry about handoff boundaries. The main
the other hand, the cost depends on the number Second, because of limited or no roaming, WLL cost advantage
of subscribers and their distances from the CO, as networks provide increased coverage and
of using
shown in Figure 2. This fact makes a WLL an capacity over similar mobile networks. WLL
affordable alternative to wireline in low network coverage also increases to some extent wireless
teledensity areas. A further cost improvement based on the type of end-user device. In many technologies
comes with economy of scale. The cost of wireless cases, end-user terminals and telephones are to deploy
drops as technologies advance and the number of capable of using a higher transmitter power and
the “last mile”
users/subscribers increases. Conversely, the cost have better receive sensitivities than mobiles.
of digging trenches for fiber cables remains to subscribers
Of course, an important design constraint is
relatively constant. accrues from
whether or not roaming capabilities are enabled.
Deployment Speed—A wireless network can be Roaming can be enabled to any degree, from not having to deploy
installed and commissioned relatively quickly limited service to full mobility, generally potentially costly
and easily. Adding new users is also very easy. A depending on the prevailing regulatory outside plant
user needs only to purchase a suitable end-user environment.
infrastructure.
device (phone, terminal, etc.) and sign up for a
Flexibility—The implementation of WLL
corresponding service plan. It is not necessary to
networks is extremely flexible, especially with
send field personnel to turn the service on. In
regard to expansion and increased capacity. It is
other words, no truck rolls are necessary, and
easy to expand a network to support added
adds, moves, and changes can be addressed from
coverage and capacity requirements.
a centralized location.
The fact that the process of building a WLL
Design Constraints—Three key drivers must be
system does not require precise knowledge of the
considered when designing WLL networks:
user’s location adds flexibility to system planning
voice quality, coverage, and capacity. Since these
1,500
1,000
Cost ($)
500
Wireline
Wireless
Distance
IMT-2000
GSM-1800
GSM-900
CDMA450
Coverage
Area
CENTRAL AND
EASTERN EUROPE
Azerbaijan, Moldova, Poland, Romania,
Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
W ith the focus shifting from providing basic
telephony services in developing countries
or underserved areas to providing more
data-centric services, so too is the original idea
INDIA
behind WLL evolving. Originally posed as
CHINA “How important is it to provide data services
in developing countries?” the idea has now
evolved—as we have seen—to the concept of
WLL Deployment in Developing Countries providing ubiquitous fixed and mobile wireless
In developing countries, there has always been access around the world. No longer is WLL
strong interest in using WLL technologies to limited to just voice service in remote regions.
bridge the “digital divide.” A primary goal of Fixed and mobile broadband wireless access
deploying WLL systems is to provide universal is the new “WLL.” That access is the topic of
telephone access. This is a popular choice in this section.
developing countries or regions because it is an
affordable alternative to wireline for low Examples of Worldwide CDMA Deployments
teledensity areas. In most cases, WLL is the
quickest and least expensive way to circumvent Eurotel—Czech Republic
the dire lack of infrastructure [10]. In August 2004, Eurotel, the largest provider of
wireless voice and data services in the Czech
In developing countries, the driving focus has Republic, launched the world’s first commercial
been to provide basic voice services. Many CDMA450 1xEV-DO network. The success of its
countries have focused solely on installing voice GSM/general packet radio service (GPRS)
networks, overlooking the growing use and solution, along with the growing demand for
convergence of data services. Although voice, broadband data, made Eurotel realize that a high-
and sometimes low-speed data, services are the speed wireless solution was needed. In 2004,
current technology driver, high-speed data and mobile penetration in the Czech Republic was
video applications will likely drive the future. greater than 98 percent, while high-speed Internet
access remained less than 3 percent. Recognizing
Therefore, data services should be incorporated
a significant unmet demand for high-speed
from the beginning, as is the case with wireless
mobile and fixed Internet access, Eurotel needed
technologies such as cdma2000 1xEV-DO.
to find a quickly deployable technology to
Incorporating data services should be an integral
capture the broadband data market while
part of a developing country’s growth strategy.
leveraging its 450 MHz spectrum resources.
Data communications should be just as pressing
Furthermore, it needed a technology that could
a concern as voice communications in the
provide countrywide coverage cost effectively.
deployment of WLL networks [10].
The search was narrowed to 1xEV-DO. Thus,
For poorer regions, the Internet presents a unique CDMA450, combined with the 1xEV-DO capacity
opportunity as well as a unique challenge. The and throughput characteristics, was the ideal
opportunity derives from new Internet appli- infrastructure solution for Eurotel’s needs. With
cations of greater value to developing countries 224 base stations, Eurotel is now able to provide
than to developed ones. Remote regions that have coverage to 80 percent of the Czech Republic
never been able to afford adequate educational population. Subscribers are able to gain high-
and health facilities or to attract competent speed Internet access without waiting for
teachers, doctors, agricultural extension officers, installation. They simply visit their local Eurotel
and other professionals now have an alternative retail outlet and walk home as the owner of a
medium by which they can benefit from the wireless access terminal that functions within
become 300–400 kbps [14]. Revision A starts Avg. Forward Link Throughput 774 kbps 594 kbps
to make practical the shift to an all-IP-based Median 764 kbps 610 kbps
network for voice, data, and other multimedia- Peak 1.868 Mbps 1.976 Mbps
based services. However, a long-term strategy
% > 1 Mbps 27% 7%
is necessary for continued evolution and
competitive positioning. % > 600 kbps 64% 51%
Circuit
Core
BSC MSC
1xRTT
PTSN
Circuit Voice Network
BTS
BTS Packet
Core
Voice
Data BSC PDSN
PSTN
EV-DO Revision A
Packet Voice and Data Network
SIP Media
Server Gateway
Packet
Core
BTS BSC
PDSN
PDSN
VoIP
Data
1,200
Data
Throughput
1,000 with 40
600
cdma2000
1xEV-DO Revision B 400
introduces a
64 QAM modulation 200
scheme and delivers
peak rates of 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
73.5 Mbps in the
Voice Users
forward link and
27 Mbps in the
reverse link by Figure 6. Simultaneous VoIP and Data Sector Throughput [21]
aggregating fifteen
1.25 MHz carriers compression. The overhead required in current calls. These field tests validate the quality and
within 20 MHz networks results in an inefficient overhead-to- capacity of fully mobile VoIP over 1xEV-DO
payload ratio. Typical ratios can be on the order Revision A and pave the way to large-scale
of bandwidth.
of 2:1, or a required header twice as large as the commercial trials by network operators [23].
actual voice payload. Such inefficiencies affect the
overall network capacity to handle voice traffic. The Path of cdma2000 Evolution
Header compression reduces these headers from The principle underlying the path of cdma2000
as much as 40 bytes down to approximately evolution is backward and forward compatibility.
2 bytes. [20, 22] This compatibility allows operators to seamlessly
Putting VoIP and 1xEV-DO Revision A Together and cost-effectively upgrade their existing
According to simulations performed in [22], VoIP networks to enhance capabilities and advance
over 1xEV-DO Revision A supports 40–60 services. Each evolutionary step of cdma2000
simultaneous users. Even with a guaranteed builds on the inherent advantages of CDMA
voice quality of 270 ms mouth-to-ear delay technologies and introduces enhancements that
for 40–60 simultaneous VoIP users, 1xEV-DO further increase spectral efficiencies and data
Revision A makes 400 kbps per sector available throughput, while supporting the convergence
on the forward link for data users. This is of fixed, mobile, and multicasting networks
in sharp contrast to 1xRTT, which cannot through all-IP delivery. [9]
deliver simultaneous voice and broadband Evolutionary Dead Ends
data under any circumstances. Figure 6 shows In contrast to previous CDMA evolution
the relationship between the number of strategies that planned on cdma2000 1xEV-DV
voice subscribers supported and the offered (evolution-data/voice) and cdma2000 3x (multi-
data capacity. carrier CDMA using three 1.25 MHz carriers), the
In June 2006, QUALCOMM successfully current evolution strategy is focused on upgrades
demonstrated the potential for using VoIP across to the existing 1xEV-DO technology path. In this
1xEV-DO Release A. The field tests, conducted manner, the intent of both 3x and 1xEV-DV
over a cdma2000 1xEV-DO Revision A system in will be embraced in the advanced revisions of
one sector within a single 1.25 MHz channel in a 1xEV-DO. Since 1xEV-DO was originally thought
fully mobile configuration, showed a voice of as a data-only service, cdma2000 1xEV-DV
capacity capable of supporting 62 simultaneous was envisioned as a technology to provide both
DL: 153 kbps DL: 2.4 Mbps DL: 3.1 Mbps DL: 3.1–73 Mbps Requirements:
UL: 153 kbps UL: 153 kbps UL: 1.8 Mbps UL: 1.8–27 Mbps DL: 70–200 Mbps
1.25–20 MHz UL: 30–45 Mbps
1.25–20 MHz
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
NOTES:
Timeline depicts initial commercial availability of each technology. Those introduced beyond 2008 are under standardization and are subject to variability.
1. EV-DO Revision A and Revision B incorporate OFDM for multicasting.
2. Data rates of 73 Mbps for the DL and 27 Mbps for the UL figures are based on a 2 x 20 MHz allocation.
3. Data rate is dependent on level of mobility.
200 KB 3.5 MB 10 MB
Mbps Picture MP3 PowerPoint®
3xMC-DO
File Presentation
5 MHz
3xMC-DO
5 MHz 9.3 0.2 3 8.7
1xEV-DO
Revision A
1xEV-DO
Revision A 3.1 0.5 9 26
1xEV-DO
Revision 0
1xEV-DO
2.4 0.7 12 33
Revision 0
1x
1x 0.153 10 183 523
Bechtel has continually set the bar for telecom- JAMES A. IVANY
munications network project deployment for clients Principal Vice President and
throughout the world. Due to our success with tight Business Manager and
schedules and cost effective delivery, we are currently Chief Financial Officer
managing network expansions and upgrades for major
operators in the US, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. J. S. (JAKE) MACLEOD
Signature record-breaking projects include Cingular, Principal Vice President and
AT&T Wireless, Vodafone, Verizon, Metromedia Fiber Chief Technology Officer
Networks, XO, WINFirst, Viatel, Pangea, and Equinix.
LEE LUSHBAUGH
Principal Vice President and
General Manager, Americas
RICK ASTLEFORD
Principal Vice President and
General Manager, Europe, Africa,
Middle East, Asia, and Asia-Pacific
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