Outside Plant - Example: Copper Access Network

Example: Copper Access Network

In civilian telecommunications, the copper access network (also known as the local loop) providing basic telephone or DSL services typically consists of the following elements:

  • In-house wiring that connects customer premises equipment to the demarcation point, usually in residential installations contained in a weather protected box.
  • One or more twisted pairs, called a drop wire. The drop wires typically connect to a splice case, located in line for aerial cables, or in a small weather protected case for underground wiring, where the local cabling is connected to a secondary feeder line. These cables contain fifty or more twisted pairs.
  • Secondary feeder lines run to a streetside cabinet containing a distribution frame called a Serving Area Interface (SAI).
  • The SAI is connected to the main distribution frame, located at a Telephone exchange or other switching facility, by one or more primary feeder lines which contain hundreds of copper twisted pairs. An SAI may also contain a Digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) supporting DSL service.

Active equipment (such as a POTS or DSL line circuit) can then be connected to the line in order to provide service, but this is not considered part of outside plant.

Read more about this topic:  Outside Plant

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