chpt_07.

fm Page 95 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

Presented by:

CHAPTER
7

DSL and Cable Modem Networks

DSL and cable modem network access are two alternative ways to connect to a network
service provider without the use of more expensive dedicated service, such as Frac-T1/T1.
DSL and cable modem networks achieve the same result of providing dedicated access to
a network service, often the Internet, but each do so using differing technologies. This
chapter discusses what DSL and cable modem technologies do and how they do it.

Digital Subscriber Line

Digital subscriber line (DSL) technology is a modem technology using existing twisted-
pair telephone lines to carry high-bandwidth applications, such as multimedia and video.
The term xDSL covers a number of DSL technologies, such as Asymmetrical Digital
Subscriber Line (ADSL), Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL), Hi-Speed Digital
Subscriber Line (HDSL), HDSL-2 (HDSLv2), ITU DSL standard (G.SHDSL), ISDN
Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL), and Very-High-Data-Rate Digital Subscriber Line
(VDSL).
xDSL services are dedicated point-to-point network access over twisted-pair copper wire
on the local loop (last mile) between a network service providers (NSP) central office (CO)
and the customer site. xDSL also can be deployed in intra-building and intra-campus
environments, as illustrated in Figure 7-1.
xDSL offers two chief benefits over dial-up service:
Dial-up service is limited to 53.3 Kbps, whereas xDSL service can enable up to
6.122 Mbps.
Dial-up service is initiated on-demand by the end-user, but xDSL service is a
dedicated connection, meaning that it is always on.

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Reproduced from the book Network Sales and Services Handbook. Copyright 2005, Cisco
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Indianapolis, IN 46240. Written permission from Pearson Education, Inc. is required for all other uses.
chpt_07.fm Page 96 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

96 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

Figure 7-1 Intra-Building and Intra-Campus/Inter-Building

Ethernet
Ethernet

Ethernet
Ethernet

Ethernet

Intra Campus/Intra Building

Intra Building

The following sections discuss ADSL. ADSL is often deployed in the small office/home
office (SOHO) environment and is the traditional DSL service for residential deployment.
The asymmetry is ideal in these environments because the majority of upstream bandwidth
is consumed by Internet requests; for example, users navigating through web sites. These
upstream requests are small compared to the downstream response, such as the web site
fulfilling the users request.

ADSL
ADSL technology makes more bandwidth available downstream, from a NSP central office
(CO) to the customer site, than it makes available upstream, from the customer site to the
CO. Figure 7-2 illustrates an example of an ADSL connection.

Figure 7-2 ADSL Connection

NSP

ADSL Modem ADSL Modem

1.5 to 9 Mbps
16 to 640 Kbps
chpt_07.fm Page 97 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

Digital Subscriber Line 97

The asymmetry of ADSL, combined with always-on access (which eliminates call setup),
makes ADSL another solution for Internet/intranet surfing, video-on-demand, and remote
LAN access because users of these applications often download more data than they upload.

ADSL Architecture
ADSL circuits connect ADSL modems on each end of a twisted-pair telephone line,
creating three data channels:
A high-speed downstream channelRanges from 1.5 to 9 Mbps.
A low-speed upstream channelRanges from 16 to 640 Kbps.
A basic telephone service channelThe basic telephone service channel is split off
from the digital modem by filters or plain old telephone service (POTS) splitters,
providing uninterrupted basic telephone service.

NOTE The upstream and downstream bandwidth ranges depend upon the distance between the
customer site and the DSL providers CO; the greater the distance, the lower the bandwidth
capacity.

Figure 7-3 illustrates the architecture of an ADSL network.

Figure 7-3 ADSL Architecture

POTS/PSTN
Switch
CO

POTS Splitter

ATM / FRL/
IP Network
SSG
DSLAM

Splitter xTU-R Backbone

VoIP
Splitter

Corporate

Router
DSLAM

Internet
Local
Servers

Local Access Network Transport System

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98 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

ADSL architecture is made up of the following components:

Transport SystemProvides the carrier backbone transmission interface for the
DSLAM system. This device can provide service specific interfaces such as T1/E1,
T3/E3, OC-1/3, and STS-1/3.
Local Access NetworkUses the local carrier Inter-CO network as a foundation,
providing connectivity between multiple service providers and multiple services
users, often with Frame Relay or ATM switches.
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM)Concentrates data traffic
from multiple DSL loops onto the backbone network for connection to the rest of the
network.
DSL Transceiver Unit-Remote (xTU-R)The customer site equipment for service
connection to the DSL loop.
POTS SplittersOptional device at both CO and service user locations, enabling the
copper loop to be used for simultaneous DSL and transmission and single line tele-
phone service. POTS splitters come in two configurations:
Single splitter version for mounting at the residence
Multiple splitter version for mass termination at the CO
POTS splitters are either passive or active. Active splitters require an external power
source, and passive splitters require no power and often have a higher mean time
between failure (MTBF) than the active splitter. Passive splitters enable lifeline
services, such as 911, in the event of a DSLAM or xTU-R power loss; active splitters
require backup power.

ADSL Data Rates

Downstream bandwidth depends on a number of factors:
Length of the copper line
Wire gauge of the copper line
Presence of bridged taps
Presence of cross-coupled interference

NOTE Bridged taps are any cable pair spliced into the main pair. Many unused bridged taps remain
from the early days when party lines were the norm and two or more taps were made on
every line. Bridged taps cause undesirable reflection that can distort the high-frequency
signals in modern transmission technologies.
chpt_07.fm Page 99 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

Digital Subscriber Line 99

Line attenuation increases with line length and frequency, and decreases as wire diameter
increases. Ignoring bridged taps, ADSL performs as shown in Table 7-1.
Table 7-1 ADSL Rates (Ignoring Bridged Taps)
Rate (Mbps) Wire Gauge (AWG) Distance (feet) Wire Size (mm) Distance (km)
1.5 or 2 24 18,000 0.5 5.5
1.5 or 2 26 15,000 0.4 4.6
6.1 24 12,000 0.5 3.7
6.1 26 9000 0.4 2.7

Customer sites beyond the previously listed distances can be reached with fiber-based
digital loop carrier (DLC) systems, as illustrated in Figure 7-4.

Figure 7-4 ADSL with and Without Fiber-based DLC

< 18,000 Feet

ADSL Modem ADSL Modem

< 18,000 Feet

Fiber-Based
DLC System
ADSL Modem ADSL Modem

< 18,000 Feet

NOTE xDSL service will not work over fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) implementations. FTTC is the
installation of optical fiber to within a thousand feet of the home or office. Fiber-to-the-
home (FTTH) is the installation of optical fiber from the carrier directly into the home or
office.

ADSL Standards and Associations

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Working Group T1E1.4 approved an
ADSL standard at rates up to 6.1 Mbps (DMT/ANSI Standard T1.413). The European
Technical Standards Institute (ETSI) contributed an annex to T1.413 reflecting European
requirements including a single terminal interface at the premise side of the access circuit.
The ATM Forum and the Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC) have both recognized
ADSL as a physical layer transmission protocol for unshielded twisted pair (UTP) media.
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100 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

NOTE UTP is a popular type of cable consisting of two unshielded wires twisted around each
other. Because UTP cabling is cost efficient, it is used extensively for local-area networks
(LANs) and telephone connections. UTP cabling does not offer the high bandwidth or
protection from interference that is found with coaxial or fiber optic cables; however, UTP
is less expensive and easier to work with than coaxial or fiber-optic.

Other xDSL Technologies

There are several xDSL implementations in addition to ADSL. These are as follows:
Single-lined digital subscriber line (SDSL)A rate-adaptive version of Hi-speed
digital subscriber line (HDSL) which like HDSL is symmetric. SDSL enables equal
bandwidth downstream from a network service provider CO to the customer site as
upstream from the customer site to the CO. SDSL supports data only (maximum of
1.544 Mbps) on a single line and does not support analog calls.
High-data-rate digital subscriber line (HDSL)Developed by Bellcore, high bit-
rate DSL (HDSL)/T1/E1 technologies have been standardized by ANSI in the United
States and by ETSI in Europe. HDSL is a more cost-efficient method of installing
T1 service to a customer site than traditional dedicated DS1 service.
HDSL 2Standard enabling symmetric service at T1 speeds using a single-wire pair
rather than the two pairs of HDSL service. HDSL-2 also was developed as a standard
by which different vendors equipment can interoperate.
G.SHDSL (ITU HDSL Standard)A standards-based, multirate version of HDSL-2,
which offers symmetrical service.
Integrated services digital network (ISDN) digital subscriber line (IDSL)A
cross between ISDN and xDSL, using a single-wire pair to transmit full-duplex data
at 128 kbps.
Very-high-data-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL)Transmits high-speed data
over short reaches of twisted-pair copper telephone lines, with a range of speeds
depending on actual line length. The maximum downstream rate under consideration
is between 51 and 55 Mbps over lines up to 1000 feet (300 m). Downstream speeds
as low as 13 Mbps over lengths beyond 4000 feet (1500 m) also are in consideration.

Cable Access Technologies

Cable television (CATV) is a unidirectional medium carrying broadcast analog video
channels to the most customers possible at the lowest possible cost to the CATV service
provider. Since the introduction of CATV more than 50 years ago, little has changed beyond
increasing the number of channels supported.
chpt_07.fm Page 101 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

Cable Access Technologies 101

Fearing loss of market share when DSL was introduced (in the 1990s) and recognizing
the need to offer advanced services to remain economically viable, key multiple system
operators (MSOs) formed the Multimedia Cable Network System Partners, Ltd. (MCNS).
The goal of the MCNS was to define a standard product and system capable of providing
data and future services over the CATV infrastructure. MCNS partners included Comcast
Cable Communications, Cox Communications, Tele-Communications Inc., Time Warner
Cable, MediaOne, Rogers CableSystems, and Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs).
The MCNS defined the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 1.0
standard, which was in turn accepted as the North American standard. These key MSOs
defined upgrade and construction programs to provide two-way functionality to the end-
user over the CATV infrastructure.

Cable Access Architecture

To deliver data services over a cable network, one television channel (50 to 750 MHz range)
is allocated for downstream traffic to homes and another channel (5 to 42 MHz band) is
used to carry upstream signals.
Figure 7-5 illustrates the architecture of a cable access network for both CATV and cable
modem services.

Figure 7-5 Cable Access Architecture

Internet

2.5 Gbps /
OC-48 Coaxial
IP Cable
Backbone
Network Distribution
Hub Fiber
622 Mbps / Node
OC-12

IP Over 27 Mbps
Regional SONET, ATM Downstream
Distribution Fiber
Cable or WDM at and 2 Mbps Node
Headend 622 Mbps Hub
Upstream per
(OC-12) Node

Fiber
Distribution Node
Hub

PSTN
27 Mbps Fiber
Downstream Node
and 2 Mbps
Upstream per Coaxial
Node Cable

Fiber Fiber
Node Node
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102 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

The following list details the cable access network architecture:

Residential and business end-users are connected to fiber nodes by coaxial cables.
Users attach to this cable through an Ethernet network interface card (NIC) installed
in the PC, in turn connected to a cable modem, as illustrated in the Figure 7-6.

Figure 7-6 Cable Modem Access

Ethernet

PC
Fiber
Node
Cable Modem
Coaxial
Cable

The fiber nodes house the cable modem termination system (CMTS) at the head-end,
communicating with the cable modems at the end-user premise. This communication
creates a LAN connection between the end-user and the cable modem service
provider.
Most cable modems are external hardware devices connecting to a PC through a
standard 10Base-T Ethernet card or Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.
These fiber nodes are connected by fiber rings (such as SONET) to the distribution
hubs, which are in turn connected by fiber rings to a regional cable head-end.
The cable head-end then forwards the traffic to the appropriate networkthe PSTN
for VoIP applications and the public Internet for all other IP traffic.
A single downstream 6 MHz television channel can carry up to 27 Mbps of downstream
data throughput from the cable head-end; upstream channels can deliver 500 Kbps to
10 Mbps from home and business end-users. This upstream and downstream bandwidth
is shared by other data subscribers connected to the same cable network segment, which is
often 500 to 2000 homes on a modern network.
An individual cable modem subscriber can reach speeds from 500 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps or
more, depending on the network architecture (for example, oversubscription ratio) and
traffic load.
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Cable Access Technologies 103

NOTE Although other users on the network segment affect cable modem speed, the CATV-signal
does not affect this speed because each signal (CATV and cable modem) uses a different
frequency on the line. This means that your cable modem connection will not be slower if
you are watching TV.

NOTE When you are surfing the World Wide Web, your systems performance can be affected by
Internet backbone congestion. The local access provider has no direct management control
over this backbone congestion; its the Internet.

DOCSIS Standards, Signaling Protocols, and Applications

Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) is a set of standards for
transferring data by CATV and cable modems. The DOCSIS interface specifications enable
multivendor interoperability for transporting Internet Protocol (IP) traffic. The DOCSIS
layers are compared with the OSI Reference Model layers in Figure 7-7.

Figure 7-7 OSI Layers and DOCSIS Layers

OSI Model DOCSIS (Data over Cable)

Application

Presentation Applications
DOCSIS
Control
Session
Messages

Transport TCP or UDP

Network IP
IEEE 802.2
Data-Link DOCSIS MAC (MPEG Frames-
Downstream)

Upstream TDMA Downstream TDM

Digital IF Digital RF
Physical
Modulation Modulation

HFC (Hybrid Fiber/Coaxial)

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104 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

The following list details the correlation between the OSI Reference Model and the
DOCSIS standard:
TCP/IP support:
IP services at the network layer (OSI Layer 3)
TCP/UDP services at the transport layer (OSI Layer 4)
Data-link layer:
Logical Link Control (LLC) sublayer conforming to Ethernet standards
Link security sublayer for basic privacy, authorization, and authentication
Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer supporting variable-length protocol
data units (PDU)
Physical (PHY) layer comprised of the following:
Downstream convergence layer conforming to MPEG-2
Physical Media Dependent (PMD) sublayer for downstream and upstream
data transmission; through Time Division Multiplexing (TDM).

Summary
DSL and cable modem network access are two alternate ways to connect to an NSP without
the use of more expensive dedicated service. DSL technology is a modem technology using
existing twisted-pair telephone lines capable of carrying high-bandwidth applications.
There are several forms of xDSL, each designed around specific goals and needs of the
marketplace. Each of these is summarized in Table 7-2.
Cable systems originally were designed to deliver broadcast television signals efficiently to
subscribers homes. Downstream video programming signals begin around 50 MHz, the
equivalent of channel 2 for over-the-air television signals. The 5 MHz to 42 MHz portion
of the spectrum is usually reserved for upstream communications from subscribers homes.
Each standard television channel occupies 6 MHz of the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum.
Traditional cable systems have 400 MHz of downstream bandwidth, capable of carrying the
equivalent of 60 analog TV channels. Modern hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) systems have 700 MHz
of downstream bandwidth, with the capacity for approximately 110 channels.
The MCNS defined the DOCSIS 1.0 standard, which in turn was accepted as the North
American standard.
chpt_07.fm Page 105 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

Summary 105

Table 7-2 DSL Service Summary

Data Rate
DSL Downstream; Distance
Type Description Upstream Limit Application
ADSL Asymmetric 1.544 to 6.1 Mbps 1.544 Mbps at Used for Internet and
digital subscriber downstream; 18,000 feet; web access, motion
line 16 to 640 Kbps 2.048 Mbps at video, video on demand,
upstream 16,000 feet; remote LAN access.

6.312 Mbps at
12,000 feet;
8.448 Mbps at
9,000 feet
HDSL High-data-rate 1.544 Mbps duplex on 12,000 feet on T1/E1 service between
digital subscriber two twisted-pair lines; 24-gauge wire server and phone
line 2.048 Mbps duplex on company or within a
three twisted-pair company; WAN, LAN,
lines server access.
SDSL Single-line digital 1.544 Mbps duplex 12,000 feet on Same as for HDSL but
subscriber line (U.S. and Canada); 24-gauge wire requiring only one line of
2.048 Mbps (Europe) twisted-pair.
on a single duplex line
downstream and
upstream
VDSL Very-high digital 12.9 to 52.8 Mbps 4500 feet at ATM networks;
subscriber line downstream; 12.96 Mbps; Fiber to the
1.5 to 2.3 Mbps 3000 feet at Neighborhood.
upstream; 25.82 Mbps;
1.6 Mbps to 2.3 Mbps 1000 feet at
downstream 51.84 Mbps

DSL and cable modem network access is not available in all parts of the country or even
to every house and business within a city. Before planning on deploying either of these
services, it is imperative to discuss these plans with the local DSL/Cable NSP. In the event
these services are not available for connectivity, you need to consider the more traditional
Frac-T1/T3, ISDN, or dial-up services.
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106 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1 Which is better: DSL or cable modem?
There is no clear choice between the two because each service offers its own
advantages and disadvantages.
The main disadvantages of cable modems, when compared to DSL service, is the
shared bandwidth to the cable head-end; end-users and their neighbors share the same
cable. The Internet access point tends to be the congestion point, as well as the Internet
itself. Another disadvantage is the end-user cannot choose the Internet Service
Provider (ISP). Cable TV lines do not have common-carrier status as do phone
lines.
DSL solutions provide the end-user with a dedicated line to the ISP; there is no
bandwidth sharing with other users on the same access network. Like cable modem
implementations, the Internet access point tends to be the congestion point, as well as
the Internet itself.
2 Does Cisco manufacture or sell xDSL solutions?

Yes, Cisco provides DSL equipment for NSP and enterprise environments, as well as
network management for a DSL platform. More information regarding Ciscos
product and solution offering can be found at
www.cisco.com/warp/public/44/solutions/network/dsl.shtml.

3 Does Cisco manufacture or sell cable solutions?

Yes, Cisco provides cable equipment for head-end and customer premise
environments, as well as network management for a cable platform. More
information regarding Ciscos product and solution offering can be found at
www.cisco.com/warp/public/44/jump/cable.shtml.

4 Can a television be connected to the cable modem line?

Yes. In most cases this configuration will work as long as a splitter is used to split
the television signal apart from the cable modem (data) signal. It is imperative to
discuss this configuration with the CATV provider to ensure that no adverse effects to
the TV or data signal are experienced by the end-user.

Case Study
HB & J, Inc. is an organization with a corporate campus and several remote SOHO users.
HB & J, Inc. has outsourced file storage to a server farm hosted by an off-site data center
company. HB & J, Inc. decided to forego traditional Frame Relay service and implemented
an IP-VPN, with the public Internet as the transport medium. The topology of the HB & J, Inc.
network is illustrated in Figure 7-8.
chpt_07.fm Page 107 Tuesday, December 3, 2002 2:08 PM

Case Study 107

Figure 7-8 HB & J, Inc.

Si

Internet
Data Center
OC-x

DSL OC-x
Ethernet
Service
Provider

CATV
Ethernet
Ethernet
Service
Provider

Corporate Campus Ethernet

PC
Cable Modem

SOHO

HB & J, Inc. is using SDSL between their two campus buildingsthe main building and
the annex building. SDSL is implemented by the deployment of a pair of SDSL modems
on each side of an existing copper facility. The main building of the HB & J, Inc. campus
is using HDSL, provided by the local NSP, to connect to the Internet.
HB & J, Inc.s SOHO users have deployed cable modem access (where available) for
connectivity to the Internet. These SOHO users are using a virtual private network (VPN)
client to establish a secure communications tunnel across the Internet to the HB & J, Inc.
Corporate Campus and the Data Center server farms. The VPN client must interoperate and
be supported by the Corporate Campus and the Data Center in order to establish the secure
tunnel across the Internet.
The Data Center has deployed a dedicated service to the Internet (likely DS3 or higher) to
meet the demands of their large, high-volume customer base.
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108 Chapter 7: DSL and Cable Modem Networks

DSL and cable modem service provide HB & J, Inc. a more cost-efficient connectivity
method than traditional dedicated service. For new locations where DSL or cable modem
service may not be available, HB & J, Inc. will need to install dedicated Internet service.
If HB & J, Inc. decides at some time to add traditional Frame Relay or ATM service
to support remote users, the Corporate Campus also will need to implement a Frame
Relay/ATM connection so that connection can be established with these users as well.

Reproduced from the book Network Sales and Services Handbook. Copyright 2005, Cisco
Systems, Inc.. Reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., 800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, IN 46240. Written permission from Pearson Education, Inc. is required for all other uses.