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| Always On/Dynamic ISDN (AODI) was created by VIA (Vendors ISDN Association)
to bring together the benefits of a leased circuit (permanent connection
to the Internet) with an ISDN dial circuit (bandwidth on demand). This always-on
connection can then be deployed as a stepping-stone to higher speed DSL
always-on services, and also has the benefits of reaching distances not
obtainable by DSL services and across infrastructures not viable for DSL. Service providers around the world are interested in deploying AODI as a service to bridge the gap between lower speed dial up connections and higher speed always on connections. Trials are currently underway in Belgium, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK. These trials vary in their implementation. Norway, for example, is simply using the spare capacity on the existing packet network for the transport of AODI traffic. Most of the others are deploying new generation technology to transport the AODI traffic across broadband ATM networks. This latter approach has benefits to the operators since it does not require them to increase capacity on their existing packet mode bearer services and also avoids any regulatory issues associated with tariffs and service transport that the packet networks may bring. An additional benefit in going down the ATM route is that the AODI traffic can pass through the same broadband access servers used for DSL deployment, thus providing a homogeneous network infrastructure. Service providers in Australia, China and Iceland are scheduled to commence trials within the next few weeks with carriers in Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia and Switzerland all seriously considering an AODI service. This sort of activity doesn't come without massive support from the vendors. At the Ancona GIIF meeting Dr Wolfgang Peters (Alcatel), Olof Ekstron (Ericsson) and Sander Poppenk (Lucent) all stressed their companies' ongoing commitment to AODI and are all heavily involved in supporting the above trials. Rob Harrison, chairman of the AODI workgroup for GIIF said "It is really heartening to experience so many operators seeing the value in AODI services. From the early days of technology specification at VIA, to the trials and early deployments, we have always felt that AODI had a part to play in the migration to always-on DSL services. DSL is certainly the long-term future for telecommunications on the local loop, but AODI will serve a purpose in creating a medium term solution that circumvents the current technical issues being experienced with DSL around the world. Notable for their absence in any of the trials are any US service providers. Maybe this is no surprise due to their experiences with ISDN over the last few years, although some are in the middle of deploying IDSL as an interim technology. However, notwithstanding the lack of any US networks, AODI is certainly proceeding apace in Europe and Asia and looks to be the successful always-on service that many thought it would be. Virtual Access (www.virtualaccess.com) is a pioneer in providing both infrastructure switching equipment and CPE for AO/DI services, the company's Always On Server is being deployed around the world for broadband AODI networks. |
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