Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses Thesis/Dissertation Collections 1997 A Practical implementation of high-speed communication using digital subscriber line technology Todd Engle Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Engle, Todd, "A Practical implementation of high-speed communication using digital subscriber line technology" (1997). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Thesis/Dissertation Collections at RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATION USING DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE TECHNOLOGY by TODD R. ENGLE THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DECEMBER 1997 Professor A'isha Ajayi, Advisor Professor Rayno Niemi, Graduate Chairperson Master of Science in Information Technology Capstone Project/Thesis Approval Form Student Name:_--'-~/---:::::o....;;d;.:..c\=·_f\~.:.....-......~=::;;;.....:.h...l...gJ~e""",-<,---- _ Student ID#: _ ProjectfThesis Committee: Name Signature Chair Committee member Graduate Program Chair revised: 4/9/97 Wallace Library Rochester Institute of Technology Thesis Reproduction Permission Statement Permission From Author Required Title of thesis: A Practical Implementation of High-Speed Communication using Digital Subscriber Line Technology I, Todd R. Engle, prefer to be contacted each time a request for reproduction is made. If permission is granted, any reproduction will not be for commercial use or profit. I can be reached at the following address: 4 Folkestone Lane Penfield, NY 14526 Phone: (716) 377-3995 Date: 1/26/98 Signature of Author: _ COPYRIGHTS All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Analog Devices is a registered trademark of Analog Devices Corporation. Ascend is a registered trademark of Ascend Corporation. Aware is a registered trademark of Aware Corporation. GTE is a registered trademark of GTE Corporation. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Pulsecom and WavePacer are registered trademarks of Pulse Communications Corporation. TeleChoice is a registered trademark of TeleChoice Corporation. Time Warner is a registered trademark of Time Warner Corporation. 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. U.S. Robotics is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other names and brands are the property of their respective owners. Todd R. Engle Page 2 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to thank the faculty and staff of the Department of Information Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology for making this learning experience so rewarding and enjoyable. I would like to give a special thanks to Professor A'isha Ajayi, my thesis advisor and an instructor for several of my courses. Professor Ajayi has always been an extremely supportive teacher, and has provided me with the opportunity to achieve to my fullest potential. I also want to thank my family and friends for their help and support over the years. I specifically want to acknowledge my parents and grandparents for encouraging me to continue my education. Due to my family's many examples, I have learned that education is a life-long process. there" Finally, I want to thank my wife, Michele, for "being for me during this entire process. She has served as my editor, proofreader, and chief supporter. I share this achievement with Michele, my wife and my best friend. Todd R. Engle Page 3 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 9 1.1 Definition of Key Terms 11 1.2 Definition of High-Speed Communication 12 1.3 Multimedia: The Future of Communication 15 1.4 Requirements 16 1.4.1 High Data Transmission Rate 17 1.4.2 Global Deployment 17 1.4.3 Wide-Scale Deployment 17 1.4.4 Short-Term Deployment 18 1.4.5 Low Cost To Consumers 18 1.4.6 Low Cost To Suppliers 18 1.4.7 High Growth Potential 18 1.5 Objectives 19 2. CURRENT PROBLEMS 20 2.1 Technology Issues 20 2.1.1 Infrastructure Limitations 21 2.2 Economical Issues 22 2.2.1 Consumer Resistance 22 2.2.2 Supplier Resistance 22 2.3 Social Issues 23 3. POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS 24 3.1 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) 24 3.1.1 Advantages of ISDN 25 3. 1.2 Disadvantages of ISDN 25 3.2 Digital Subscriber Line Technologies (xDSL) 27 3.2.1 Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) 27 3.2.2 High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) 27 3.2.3 Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) 28 3.2.4 Very High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) 29 3.2.5 Advantages of xDSL 30 3.2.6 Disadvantages of xDSL 30 3.3 Cable Modems 31 3.3.1 Introduction 31 3.3.2 Advantages of Cable Modems 33 3.3.3 Disadvantages of Cable Modems 33 4. PRACTICAL SOLUTION (XDSL) 34 4.1 Selection Criteria 34 4.2 xDSL and CableModems 34 Todd R. Engle Page 4 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology 5. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF XDSL 35 5.1DIAL-UPXDSL 37 5.1.1 Reliability and Fault Tolerance 37 5.1.2 Flexibility 38 5.1.3 Interoperability 39 5. 1.4 System Usage 40 5.1.5 Deployment Costs 41 5. 1.6 Economics of Deployment 42 5.1.7 Global Demographics 43 5.2 End-to-end Interoperability 43 5.2.1 Two Levels of Providers 44 5.2.2 PPP over ATM over xDSL 45 5.3 End-User Configuration 47 5.3.1 POTS Splitter 47 5.3.2 Hybrid High-Speed Modem 49 6. CONCLUSIONS 50 6.1 xDSL: The Only Practical Solution 50 6.2 Phased Approach 51 6.3 Dial-Up xDSL 51 6.4 Standard Protocols 52 6.5 Hybrid Modem 52 6.6 POTS Splitter 53 6.7 Promotion of xDSL and High-Speed Communication 53 6.8 Summary 53 7. DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS 55 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY 61 9. ENDNOTES 64 Todd R. Engle Page 5 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology LIST OF TABLES Table 1-1: Comparison of Different Transmission Times at Various Transmission Rates 13 Table 5-1: Remote Access and Internet Access Usage Patterns 41 Todd R. Engle Page 6 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Communication System Overview 10 Figure 2: Access Network Architecture 1 1 Figure 3: ISDN Architecture 24 Figure 4: ADSL Architecture 27 Figure 5: HDSL Architecture 28 Figure 6: SDSL Architecture 29 Figure 7: VDSL Architecture 29 Figure 8: Data Over Cable Reference Architecture 31 Figure 9: Dedicated ADSL Implementation Model 35 Figure 10: Dial-Up xDSL Architecture 37 Figure 1 1 : xDSL Modem and POTS Splitter 48 Todd R. Engle Page 7 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology ABSTRACT This thesis creates a plan for the practical implementation of high-speed communication for residences and businesses. By implementing low-cost, high-speed communication on a global scale, tremendous benefits can occur in areas such as Internet communication, interactive multimedia, telecommuting, and distance learning. Despite several successful trials of various high-speed communication technologies, many barriers remain before deployment can occur to the general public. This thesis proposes a plan to bridge the gap between theoretical test studies and global implementation. This thesis evaluates three communication systems as potential solutions for high-speed communication and selects one system as the solution. The three candidate systems are Digital Subscriber Line technologies (collectively referred to as xDSL), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and cable modem. The chosen technology solution, xDSL, allows twisted-pair copper wire (i.e. telephone lines) to be used for high-speed communication. The choice of xDSL as the technology solution is based on many factors, all of which correspond to practicality. The intent of this thesis is not the promotion of xDSL; rather, the primary objective is to create a plan to quickly and globally implement a low-cost, high-speed communication infrastructure for residences and businesses. Todd R. Engle Page 8 Capstone Thesis December 1997 M.S. in Information Technology 1. Introduction Throughout the world, businesses and residences depend upon networks to provide information, education and entertainment. The popularity of the Internet and the World Wide Web has created a tremendous demand for many network-related services, such as interactive multimedia, telecommuting, video-conferencing, and distance learning. Unfortunately, the most widely used system for remote network access analog modems over voice-grade telephone lines does not provide the performance required by today's users and applications. Users are becoming increasingly frustrated with very slow access times, and businesses are limited in the services they can currently provide customers. A cost-effective, high-speed communication system for residences and businesses capable of global implementation can have a revolutionary impact on today's world (Broadband Services Expert Group, 1994). Just as construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s facilitated the expansion of the United States, the construction of information highways in the 1990s will generate economic and social changes well into the next century (3Com, 1995). The global implementation of high-speed communication will allow individuals to interact without regard to geographical boundaries. From 1995 to 1997, several major corporations, such as Microsoft, GTE, U.S. West, and Time Warner, conducted many data trials of high-speed communication (GTE, 1997).