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FSTJ 2009-10 Cover Image

2009-10 (Vol.45, No.4)


This special issue reports on some of Fujitsu's R&D activities related to the approaches to telecommunication networks as social infrastructures, such as capacity growth with cost reductions, greater flexibility, network virtualization and visualization, more use of wireless, and provision of new experiences via the network.


2009-10 (Vol.45, No.4) Contents

1. Preface (510 KB)
The network has a major role to play in improving future information and communications technology (ICT) systems and then society. Current network-related R&D by Fujitsu can be characterized as having five directions: capacity growth with cost reductions, greater flexibility, network virtualization and visualization, more use of wireless, and provision of new experiences via the network.
This special issue reports on some of Fujitsu's R&D activities related to these approaches. ---[Toshitaka Tsuda, Senior Vice President Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.]
2. Evolution of Network Society and Technological Innovation (1.01 MB )
It has been long time since information and communications systems started evolving in a cycle that begins with their effect on society and daily life followed by innovation and its penetration through society. In wide area networks which provide the infrastructure for such evolution, Next Generation Networks (NGNs) are now deployed in commercial operation and fiber to the home (FTTH) systems for the household and broadband wireless access systems for mobile users are actually penetrating in the network as a variety of access options. Those trends are leading and driving further innovation in social activities. In this paper, we examine changes in everyday life that are actually taking place in society and advances in corporate and business systems from the viewpoint of network technology. We also present trends in technology innovation with an eye to the future and introduce Fujitsu's activities in this area. ---[Eiichiro Takahashi, Kazuyoshi Kumatani, Takafumi Chujo]
3. Next-Generation Access Architectures and Distributed MSAN Concept (840 KB)
Within Europe network operators are starting to consider the deployment of deep fibre infrastructure (either fibre to the home [FTTH] or fibre to the cabinet [FTTC]) to deploy high-speed broadband services. The decision on FTTH or FTTC will be dependent on territory and regulatory environments and a range of solutions including direct fibre, PON and xDSL will be required. Fujitsu's existing Multi Service Access Node (MSAN) "GeoStream Access Gateway" has been developed by Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd. and is currently deployed in BT's 21st Century Network where it provides integrated Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) access from the central office. There are a number of features of GeoStream Access Gateway that make it possible to distribute its functionality within a network, creating a distributed MSAN. This mode of deployment is particularly suitable for those carriers wishing to deploy an FTTC solution and Fujitsu's strong track record in baseband voice support provides a unique selling point for carriers looking to migrate existing infrastructure to an FTTC infrastructure. ---[Chris Gallon, Dal Chohan, Steve James]
4. Optical Access Transport System—GE-PON Platform— (1.65 MB )
In Japan, the number of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) users surpassed the number of digital subscriber line (DSL) users in 2008. Half of all broadband users are now FTTH users, and the service menu for FTTH is growing. This achievement is attributed to lower service rates as related technologies progress and to services that approach an appropriate level of satisfaction for the user. Fujitsu is proposing the use of the Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network (GE-PON) system, which is applicable to mass production, as an access platform to support this dramatic growth in FTTH users. This paper describes the functions of two key GE-PON products—the optical line terminal (OLT) and optical network unit (ONU)—and those of their supervision and control system. It also touches upon 10G-EPON, a next-generation technology now being standardized at IEEE. Fujitsu intends to develop hardware technology to achieve a smooth transition from the existing GE-PON system to 10G-EPON and to provide an access transport system that enables users to enjoy safe and pleasant services in a stress-free way. ---[Yoshinori Ishii, Haruo Yamashita]
5. Trends in LTE/WiMAX Systems (1.13 MB )
In Japan, the total number of mobile-phone and personal handy-phone system (PHS) users reached 111 million as of the end of February 2009 and the penetration rate of the third-generation mobile communications system (IMT-2000) exceeded 88%. These figures testify to the provision of a data communications environment for mobile users. At the same time, the use of data communications via mobile phones, mainly Internet connections and video transmission, is growing as social and economic activities become increasingly advanced and diversified. As a result of these trends, there is eager anticipation for the introduction of mobile communications systems that surpass existing ones in speed, capacity, and convenience. In this paper, we describe the current state of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) for achieving high-speed mobile wireless access services, discuss trends for bit-rate enhancement, and describe the future outlook for these systems. We also outline the technologies used for these systems. ---[Tamio Saito, Yoshinori Tanaka, Tsuguo Kato]
6. NG-SDH Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP) for Metro Networks: FLASHWAVE 4X70 Series (1.11 MB )
The considerable expansion of Internet, Intranet and broadcast applications has been forcing carriers to transform their telecommunication infrastructures from voice-optimized networks to universal, converged networks. Especially in a metro network, where a large capacity of diverse service protocols is delivered among multiple nodes, a carrier's survival heavily depends on the efficiency of its data traffic transport. The FLASHWAVE 4X70 series is a powerful Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP) which can provide optimal solutions to such concerns of carriers. This platform provides the flexibility of true packet switching and Ethernet transport, while operating with the inherent reliability of SDH. Multiple network elements are integrated and consolidated into a single compact node. This paper introduces the features of the FLASHWAVE 4X70 series and its applications, as well as its extensive data transport capabilities. ---[Takanori Kaneuchi, Midori Yoshimoto, Jeff HeJian]
7. 40-Gb/s Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Transmission System (1.19 MB )
Fujitsu Telecom Networks develops and supplies optical transmission systems for domestic telecommunications carriers. For Japanese telecommunications carriers, it has recently developed the world's first 40-Gb/s dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) transmission system using the return-to-zero differential quaternary phase shift keying (RZ-DQPSK) modulation format. This system can multiplex and transmit up to forty 40-Gb/s (STM-256) signals (total: 1.6 Tb/s) over one optical fiber. In this paper, we explain the technical problems and solutions for multiplexing 40-Gb/s optical signals on a DWDM system, discuss the characteristics of various optical modulation formats, and show the superiority of RZ-DQPSK. ---[Kazuo Wani, Takeshi Ono]
8. Packet Optical Networking: Evolving the Metro Infrastructure with Fujitsu (1.16 MB )
Network providers have relied on optical networks as scalable, low-cost, generalpurpose aggregation and transport infrastructures. The emerging communications services environment is placing significant stresses on metro networks, including the aggregation and transport infrastructure. As the existing one evolves to relieve these stresses, it must address three critical challenges: providing significantly more bandwidth at lower cost, delivering a scalable Ethernet infrastructure, and managing the simultaneous growth of time-division-multiplexing and Ethernet traffic. Fujitsu is helping its customers to evolve their aggregation and transport infrastructures to face these challenges. In 2008, it introduced FLASHWAVE 9500, the first in its planned family of Packet Optical Networking Platforms (Packet ONPs). Packet ONPs represent an emerging class of optical networking equipment that integrates several important new photonic, electronic, and software technologies. They meet the three key challenges while retaining the "low-touch" operational capabilities of traditional optical networking equipment, thereby allowing service providers to evolve their metro infrastructure to profitably deliver the new generation of Internet protocol services. ---[Paul Havala, Sam Lisle, Jun Tanaka, Kazuyuki Miura]
9. Submarine Optical Communications System Providing Global Communications Network (931 KB)
The capacity of the global communications network is being progressively increased to handle the rapid growth in telecommunication traffic generated by the Internet. Fujitsu supplies submarine optical cable systems that can provide the huge capacity and short transmission delay required by carriers. There are two ways to increase capacity: construct a new submarine cable system or upgrade the existing one. For the latter, in particular, coupler insertion technology has been established. This allows the existing submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE) and new SLTE to co-exist in one system. As the existing submarine portion will continue to be used unchanged, this technology can reduce the amount of work done at sea and contribute to cost and lead-time reductions. Fujitsu has chosen to use return-to-zero differential phase shift keying (RZ-DPSK) technology to improve the upgradeable capacity and has applied it to several transpacific projects. ---[Hiroshi Nakamoto, Akira Sugiyama, Atsuhiko Utsumi]
10. IP Network Trends and Fujitsu's Strategy (1.18 MB )
Internet protocol (IP) networks are now used in various ways by individuals and companies and are expected to become even more important in future. One trend for IP networks is the convergence of their core platforms and another is the diversification of segments closely linked to services. An important issue for the future is how to provide frameworks that can handle highly diversified services on converged IP network platforms. One example of a product that can handle diversified services is WANDIRECTOR, which has recently been commercialized by Fujitsu. WANDIRECTOR provides high-speed communications for file backup and video distribution applications over a wide area network (WAN). In this paper, while referring to past shifts in IP networking, we describe future directions and give an overview of WANDIRECTOR. ---[Satoru Urata, Shigeki Kawahara, Osamu Shimokuni]
11. Approaches to Green Networks (881 KB)
Communication networks show promise as a means of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, as networks carry more traffic, their electric power consumption will increase: network power consumption in 2025 is predicted to be 13 times the 2006 level, so energy-saving technology that reduces power consumption is becoming increasingly important. Besides the energy-saving technologies currently under development for application to individual devices, technology that provides system-wide energy-savings for networks overall will be necessary in order to meet the target of keeping the power consumption in 2025 down to 2006 levels. The power consumption of routers is almost constant irrespective of the volume of transferred packets, and about 40% of it is generally used for the processing necessary for packet transfer routing. In response, we have investigated the end-to-end traffic flow and traffic characteristics of routers. In this paper, we clarify technical problems related to system-wide energy-savings focusing on router power consumption and introduce technology under development to solve these problems. ---[Mitsuaki Kakemizu, Akira Chugo]
12. Trends in Green Wireless Access (684 KB)
Reducing CO2 emissions is an important global environmental issue. Over the recent years, wireless and mobile communications have increasingly become popular with consumers. Today's typical wireless access network consumes more than 50% of the total power consumption of mobile communications networks. Growth of mobile Internet service usage is expected to drive the growth in wireless access data rates and usage. The current rate of power consumption per unit of data cannot be sustained as we move towards broadband wireless access networks and anticipated increases in wireless data traffic. This paper, first, examines typical energy consumption in mobile communications networks and traffic trends, and it subsequently discusses target power consumption reduction for the evolving broadband wireless networks to be environmentally acceptable and sustainable. It describes several technologies that can contribute towards reaching this target. ---[Sunil Vadgama]
13. Service Delivery Platform Implementing IP Multimedia Subsystem (797 KB)
With telecommunications carriers shifting their business focus from voice telephony services to packet-based services for E-mail and Web applications and the provision of high-speed services becoming possible as network speeds increase, there is a need for a mechanism that can facilitate the creation of new services. Although the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) has been attracting attention as an architecture that can separate the call control network from applications and combine voice and packet services, architectures based on industry standards and recommendations like IMS may still have problems, such as insufficient business-oriented functions and poor connectivity with service providers. This paper introduces IMS problems from the network architecture viewpoint and describes a service delivery platform that solves them. ---[Kenichi Sakurai, Soichiro Tange, Hisayuki Sekine]
14. Service Delivery Platform Technologies (1.96 MB )
The penetration of broadband networks is playing a key role in bringing about major changes in the way that network-based services are provided. New schemes such as software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) let users access a variety of services over networks. Applications, computers, storage, and other resources combined over the network enable the rapid delivery of diverse services. Fujitsu is working to provide a low-cost, quick, and highly reliable SaaS service based on the technologies it developed in constructing information technology systems and on operational know-how accumulated at data centers. In response to this shift to a service economy, it will become increasingly important for the infrastructure of the network society to increase the value of the network and build a service platform that can deploy new services promptly. In this paper, we introduce future directions of network services, describe a service delivery platform architecture, and present the research and development of its key technologies. ---[Takafumi Chujo, Masafumi Katoh, Akira Chugo, Hisayuki Sekine]
15. Operations Automation Using NETSMART 1500 Element Manager (856 KB)
This paper will describe methods of automating operations processes such as network monitoring, service activation, and data collection using external interfaces available in the NETSMART 1500 Element Management System (EMS). It will describe the functions of each interface and describe the specific customer applications of these interfaces to automate manual processes. Observations regarding our experience with operations automation, particularly using standard interfaces, will be described. Finally, this paper will examine whether use of an element manager with standard or well-defined interfaces reduces the time and cost of introducing new network technologies and services. ---[Denise Provencher]
16. Network Sensing—Network Monitoring and Diagnosis Technologies— (958 KB)
Problems that occur in the information and communication technology (ICT) systems (network services) deployed on Internet protocol (IP) networks may originate in the network, the servers, or even the data (content), which makes troubleshooting difficult and lengthens the time required for system restoration. In response to this situation, we have been developing monitoring and diagnosis techniques for network services based on the capture of packets flowing through the network. These highly sensitive techniques can detect problems that affect network service users and can quickly determine the cause and location of a problem without imposing an unnecessary load on the network. In this paper, we present a number of integrated monitoring and diagnosis techniques for network services that can be used to determine the causes and locations of network problems, diagnose server delays in services that span multiple servers, and detect sound-quality degradation in IP telephony services. ---[Masanobu Morinaga, Yuji Nomura, Takeshi Otani, Motoyuki Kawaba]
17. Proactnes II: Visualization for Next Generation Networks (1.04 MB )
The voice telephony, video distribution, and data transmission services provided over independent legacy networks are being progressively integrated into Internet protocol (IP) networks by telecommunications carriers around the world. Each integrated next-generation all-IP network, which handles data for services having different quality requirements, will provide a multitude of services. Proactnes II is a system for supporting the operational management of network services by providing network visualization. It will contribute to the provision of safe and reliable services and networks. In this paper, we outline the network sensing, voice quality control, failure analysis, and dashboard technologies incorporated into Proactnes II. ---[Hideyuki Matsuda, Noritaka Fujinaka, Jun Ogawa, Tomohiro Muramoto]