Presentation by Dale N. Hatfield

Presentation by

Dale N. Hatfield Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder

at the State

Institute for Regulatory Law and Economics (IRLE) Aspen Colorado

May 19, 2008

Introduction

•  Purpose: – To provide non-engineers with an overview of

major trends in telecommunications technology – To introduce some of the policy issues that stem

from these trends

Outline •  The Digital Revolution •  The Race for Broadband •  The Wireless Revolution •  The Role of the Internet, the Internet

Protocols and “Intelligence at the Edge” •  Convergence •  Some Recent Developments •  Public Policy Implications

The Digital Revolution

Time

Intensity

•  Analog Signal

•  Digital Signal

The Digital Revolution

Time

Intensity

0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0

1

The Digital Revolution •  Analog and Digital Networks

0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1

Time

Digital Network: voice, data, image and video information carried as a sequence of ones and zeros represented by pulses of current or light or radio waves

The Digital Revolution •  Analog to Digital and Digital to

Analog Conversion

12.3 12.6 12.9 13.6 13.9 14.8 14.1 13.9

Analog Signal Analog Signal

A/D D/A

Sequence of Numbers (Transmitted as a Sequence of Binary Numbers)

On and Off Pulses Representing

Binary Numbers

The Digital Revolution •  Why Digital?

– Analog Amplification vs. Digital Regeneration

AMP AMP AMP INPUT OUTPUT

Digital Regeneration: “Perfect” Signal is Regenerated

Analog Amplification: Noise Accumulates

INPUT Repeater Repeater Repeater

The Digital Revolution •  Why Digital?

– Digital Regeneration

Repeater

-- Other Advantages (Examples): Ease of combining different kinds of

signals (multiplexing) Rapid decline in costs and improvements in performance of digital devices (“chips”) Ease of encryption

The Race for Broadband

•  What Is Bandwidth? –  In simple terms, bandwidth is just a measure of

how fast information can be transmitted – The larger the bandwidth, the more information

that can be transmitted in a given amount of time

–  In the digital world, bandwidth is measured in bits per second

– Analogous measures: vehicles per hour or gallons per minute


•  What Is Bandwidth? – To over simplify:

•  Voice requires only narrow bandwidths (narrowband)

•  Still images require wide bandwidths (wideband)*

•  Video requires broad bandwidths (broadband)

*For transmission of the image in a reasonable amount of time


•  Illustration of the Importance of Bandwidth

Computer Monitor

The Wireless Revolution

•  What Is Spectrum? –  “Spectrum” is a conceptual tool used to

organize and map a set of physical phenomena – Electric and magnetic fields produce

(electromagnetic) waves that move through space at different frequencies

– The set of all possible frequencies is called the “electromagnetic spectrum”

The Wireless Revolution •  What Is Spectrum?

– The subset of frequencies between 3,000 Hz and 300 GHz is known as the “radio spectrum”

– Note that radio waves do not require a medium per se, that is, radio waves can travel through a vacuum (e.g., outer space)

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Wireless Revolution •  A Radio Communications Link

Transmitter Receiver

Antenna Antenna

Transmission Line Transmission Line

Radio Waves

The Wireless Revolution •  Relationship Between Frequency and

Wavelength

The Wireless Revolution •  Characteristics of Different Frequencies

– Some Factors Vary with Frequency •  How fast the wave weakens with distance •  Size of efficient antennas •  Ability of the waves to penetrate buildings •  Ability of the waves to penetrate through trees and

other vegetation •  Reflectivity of various objects to the waves

The Wireless Revolution •  Modulation and Demodulation

– Transmitter and Receiver – Basic Building Blocks

MOD AMP DE- MOD AMP

OSC

Transmitter

INFO

INFO

Receiver

The Role of the Internet

Source: bchs.kearney.net/ BTales_198302.htm

Laura Robbins and Maud Ware at telephone switchboard 1910

•  Telephone Switching

The Role of the Internet •  A Telephone Switchboard

Plugs and Cords Jacks

Wire Pairs = N = 8

The Role of the Internet •  A Simple Telephone Switch – Manual or

Automatic

Controller

Service Logic

A B C D E F

A B C D E F

Mind of the Operator “Intelligence”

(Service Layer)

Eyes, Ears, Limbs, Hands etc (Control Layer)

Switch “Matrix” (Transport Layer

Incoming Lines/Trunks

Outgoing Lines Trunks

Switch “Matrix”

Memory


Edge Network Edge

•  A Telephone Exchange

Services Control

Transport


Edge •  A Telephone Network

Edge Network

Service

Control

Transport

Service

Control

Transport

Exchange One Exchange Two

Interexchange, LD, or Toll Trunks


Telegraph Key and Sounder Image from: www.jerry-howell.com/ Telegraph.html Telegraph Relay Office Image from: http://www.coloradoplains.com/otero/souvenir/page23.htm

Telegraph Key and Sounder Telegraph Relay Office

•  The Telegraph and Message Switching


Telegram To: Joe Smith, Anytown From: Mary Jones, Sometown Text: Happy Birthday MMM



•  A Message Switch

Message Switch (Relay Office)

The Role of the Internet •  A Packet of Information

Header Text Text Trailer

Address, Priority, Packet Number, etc.

User Information Error Detection Code etc.

(Redundant Bits)


Packet Switch or Router

•  A Packet Switch or Router


Node


•  A Packet Switched Network

Node


To/From Other Nodes

The Role of the Internet •  The Internet As a “Cloud”

Internet – A Packet Switched Network Using the Internet Protocol Suite

The Role of the Internet •  A Note on Latency and Quality of Service

(QoS) –  In simple terms, latency just refers to delay – Latency is the amount of time it takes

information (e.g., a packet) to travel from source to destination

The Role of the Internet –  In a packet switched network, latency is

associated with congestion produced by the inability of packet switches to process packets fast enough and/or by the lack of adequate transmission capacity (bandwidth) between packet switches

–  In combination, latency and bandwidth define the speed and capacity of a network

– Low latency is critical in voice communications and certain “real-time” data communications applications (e.g., interactive games)


•  Architecture of the Traditional Public Switched Telephone Network – Circuit switching –  “Dumb” terminals with limited capabilities –  “Intelligence” residing in switches, intelligent

peripherals, service control points, etc. interior to the network

– Services created inside the network


•  Architecture of Networks Based Upon the Internet Protocol (IP) – Packet switching –  “Dumb” network –  “Intelligent” terminals (e.g., PCs) with a rich

set of capabilities – Services created in terminals/servers at the edge

of the network


Server


Server

Server

Adapter

Gate- way

To Public Switched Telephone Network

•  “Intelligence” at the “Edge” of the Network

PC/Client

The Role of the Internet •  Network Trends/Goals from a

Technological Perspective: – All applications -- voice, data, image, video,

multimedia -- conveyed on an all digital, packet-switched, broadband, low latency network or “platform”

– A “network of networks” platform that uses common, open, non-proprietary standards and protocols (e.g., the Internet Protocol -- IP)


•  Network Trends/Goals from a Technological Perspective: (Cont’d) – Extension of this platform using wireless

technology to allow users to communicate anyplace, anytime, in any mode or combination of modes.


Customer Premises Access Backbone Local/Regional

Customer Node Network Node

IP Based Network

•  Integrated Network with Integrated Access

Access Network: DSL, Cable Modem, Wireless (Cellular, Wi-Fi, etc), Satellite, Other

Integrated End User Device (Voice, Data, Video, Multimedia)

Convergence •  Traditional “Silos” of Service/Regulation

Title II

Wireline Telephony

Title III

Wireless Telephony

Title III

Broadcast Radio/TV

Title VI

Cable Television

Common Carrier Bureau – Now the Wireline Competition Bureau

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Broadcast Bureau – Now Part of the Media Bureau

Cab;e Television Bureau – Now Part of the Mass Media Bureau

Sources: Newman, Whitt, Sicker, others

Note: Titles refer to the Communications Act of 1934 (as amended); Bureaus refer to organizational units within the FCC

Convergence •  Converged Networks Services

Applications

Voice, data, still image, video (telephony, email, WWW, video, etc.)

TCP/IP

(The Internet Protocol Suite)

Medium

Cable, wireless (3G, WiFi, WiMax), DSL, FTTH, etc.

Recent Developments

•  Transition of the Internet to Web 2.0 •  “Cloud Computing” •  Network Neutrality

Recent Developments

•  Transition to Web 2.0 – Web 2.0 – a somewhat ill-defined, subjective

term referring to a perceived second generation of the Internet/World Wide Web

– Usually refers to new Internet/WWW-based services that reflect greater emphasis on dynamic, online colloboration and information sharing among Internet users, content providers, and enterprises

Recent Developments •  Transition to Web 2.20

– Contrasts with individual Internet users simply viewing or downloading relatively static content from websites as in what is not retroactively referred to as the Web 1.0

– Examples include social networking sites, wikis, blogs, folksonomies

– Does not refer to any major update of any technical characteristics of the Internet but has implications for the underlying architecture

Source: Various

Recent Developments

Server


Server

Server

Adapter

Gate- way

To Public Switched Telephone Network

•  “Cloud Computing”

PC/Client

Computing Cloud

“Thin Client”

Collection of Connections And Servers

Recent Developments •  Network Neutrality

–  Issue typically arises where a firm has both the power and the incentive to cross-subsidize and discriminate so as to disadvantage competitors (Examples)

– Common Tenants of Net Neutrality •  Individuals can use the applications of their choice

and can access any other individual or resource on the Internet

•  Network service providers cannot discriminate with regard to the use of applications or access of end points on the network


– Common Tenants (Cont’d) •  Network service providers cannot block competitive

applications or services in order to gain a competitive advantage

•  If network service providers offer a preferred service level, this preferred service level is offered and is available to others on the same terms and conditions.

•  Individuals at the edge of the network can innovate without seeking approval of the network service provider

Source: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm


– Forms of Net Neutrality •  Hard Form: Carriers cannot provide any kind of

traffic differentiation (e.g., in terms of QoS) •  Soft Form: Carriers can offer different tiers of

service (e.g., in terms of QoS) as long as it is offered in a fair and non-discriminatory fashion to all users and service/content providers

– Net Neutrality and legitimate network management activities

Public Policy Implications

Contact Information Dale N. Hatfield Adjunct Professor Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program University of Colorado at Boulder Engineering Center - ECOT-311 Campus Box 530 Boulder, CO 80309-0530 Main Tel: +1 303-492-8916 Direct Dial: +1 303-492-6648 Fax: +1 303-492-1112 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

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Presentation by Dale N. Hatfield