Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 1 In-house cabling solutions Giuseppe A. AZZINI, Francesco CAVIGLIA, Giuseppe GALLIANO and Adler TOFANELLI CSELT S.p.A. Torino - Italy ANCIT Torino, March 1998

ANCIT WORKSHOP 2 Summary Introduction The services for the residential customers Home network topologies Cabling solutions for the new buildings Cabling solutions for already existing buildings Cables and components Economical evaluation Conclusions

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 3 Why “In-house cabling” is so important Strong impact on the final residential customer for: –costs –unaesthetic presence of cabling infrastructures The success of the new services depends on customer premises cabling issues The solution are: –infrastructure/wiring guidelines for new buildings –suitable cabling systems for already existing buildings –new technologies for providing services (radio, use of power wiring...)

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 4 Services The Italian present situation –POTS –ISDN –TV (Terrestrial Radio Broadcast) –CATV (HFC network) – SAT-TV (Satellite Radio Broadcast) The future –Evolution of the already existing services –Switched Digital Video Broadcasting (SDVB) using xDSL techniques –Fast Internet (xDSL, Cable Data Modem, satellite access...) –Home automation –?

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 5 Services present situation coax Twisted pairs FN = POTS = TAP POTS coax ISDN = ISDN NT Modem HFC network

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 6 New services coax Twisted pairs FN = POTS = Combiner/splitter = TAP POTS coax ISDN = ISDN NT CDM POTS xDSL = xDSL NT HFC network xDSL ISDN

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 7 Home Network Topologies Star –SDVB, Fast Internet (ATM 25 Mbit Ethernet) –POTS (not in Italy) –More flexible Bus –POTS (Italian Specs.) –ISDN (S-Bus) –TV/CATV Satellite (most used in Italy) –Minimum wiring length

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 8 Cabling solutions for new buildings Guidelines for the new infrastructures Choice between: –“infrastructure-only” approach (ducts and outlets position) –“wiring” approach (type and number of cable to each outlet) In-chase ducts are mainly used (for brick walls) Critical issues are the number of outlets and the ducts dimension (number of installed cables for the second approach)

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 9 Italian guidelines for new buildings –“Infrastructure only” approach –Star for future Broadband services (20 mm tube, 1 outlet/room) –Bus for POTS and ISDN (20 mm tube, 1 outlet/room) –Presence of a box at the star centre size: (300x200x80 mm) –The convenience for ducts larger than 20 mm is under consideration A 20 mm duct completed filled

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 10 U.S.A. national standard (draft EIA/TIA 570) “Residential Telecommunications cabling standard” “Wiring” approach Star topology 3 different cabling grades Grade 1 : 1 x 75  coax 2 x twisted pair (UTP cat.3) Grade 2 : 2 x 75  coax  x  twisted pair (UTP cat.3) Grade 3: 2 x 75  coax 2 x  twisted pair (UTP cat.5) optical fibres (optional) Wall space at the star centre for a distribution device (e.g. 0.8x0.9 m for a grade 2 cabling) “Wiring” approach requires the installation of a large number of cables Rules coordinated with the “Residential Gateway” approach

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 11 Cabling solutions for Existing Buildings In-chase ducts technique is not viable for costs and inconveniences Suitable techniques are: –raceways –Wall direct riveting The main purpose is to provide the link when needed: –Raceway solution allows a sharing of the infrastructure for future upgrading –Raceways have a stronger aesthetic impact but new products are coming –No strong differences among cable types (optical, UTP, coax..)

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 12 Coaxial Cables and Components 5 MHz1 GHz  2.5 GHz 5 MHz1 GHz  1 MHz Used for CATV distribution ( MHz) Opportunity: Open to the satellite band But: Cost increase Opportunity: Open to low frequency But: Non standard VDSL signals branching devices

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 13 Coaxial cabling used for low frequency VDSL signals (e.g. DAVIC solution) CATV (50 MHz to 1 GHz) VDSL (1 to 30 MHz) COMBINERTAP Oultlet Outlet TV Set top box PC VDSL terminal

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 14 Silica or Plastic Optical Fibres and connectors Step index Plastic Optical Fibre Acceptable transmission performances Easy to be connected (low cost) Silica Fibre for low cost applications: multimode 62.5  m Good transmission performances Low cost connectors are appearing on the market

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 15 Optical cables for residential applications Cables to be pulled in ducts –Tensile resistance is important Cables to be installed in raceways –Small size is important Cables for direct riveting to wall –Crush resistance is important Under carpet cables –Flat, good crush resistance FO have small intrinsic dimensions, but require adequate protection The optimum cable structure depend on the installation method Coiled steel Aramidic yarns (e.g. Kevlar) About 1 mm 3.8 mm

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 16 An economical evaluation The economical impact of the cabling for broadband (BB) outlets using: –Different Infrastructure solutions In-chase ducts (a new building with pre-installed ducts is presumed) Raceways Wall riveting –Different cables UTP (Cat. 5) Silicon multimode fibre (62.5  m core) Plastic Optical Fibre Evaluation based on an example with: –Installation of 2 BB outlets (at time 1) and 2 further BB outlets (at time 2)

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 17 An economical evaluation (2 outlets) Time 1 - Total cost (in Euro) for two BB outlet The cost for the Ducts solution includes the cost of pre-installed ducts for 8 potential outlets (325 Euro) Ducts Raceway Wall UTP Si Fibre POF

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 18 An economical evaluation (upgraded to 4 outlets) Ducts Raceway Wall UTP Si Fibre POF Time 2 - Total cost (in Euro) after the addition of 2 further BB outlets The cost for the Ducts solution includes the cost of pre-installed ducts for 8 potential outlets (325 Euro)

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 19 An economical evaluation (discussion) In-chase ducts solution is the more expensive. (However: most of the cost is in the pre-installed duct infrastructure, that often can be regarded as an investment, as it grants elasticity and increases the value of the the house) Direct wall riveting is the cheaper solution The Si Fibre solution appears to be more expensive than UTP or POF solution. (However: the difference arises from the cost of connectors; the foreseeable venue of cheaper connectors will close the gap) The cost does not strongly depend on the physical carrier (UTP, Si fibre, POF); hence the driving force in choosing it is not the economical aspect

Torino, March 1998 ANCIT WORKSHOP 20 Conclusions For the in-house-cabling, three main techniques are available: in-chase ducts, raceways, direct riveting For new building the future development of the services requires a guideline on the cabling infrastructure For already existing building only raceway and direct riveting are applicable, but with a negative impact on the aesthetic The costs of the in-chase ducts technique are higher than the others, but with advantages in elasticity and aesthetic The cost of the cabling does not notably depend on the physical carrier (UTP, Si fibre or POF)