NETWORK EVOLUTION IN SWEDEN TOWARDS A FIBEROPTIC BROAD-BAND NETWORK

Generic broadband services in the public telecommunications network require a fibre-optical infrastructure in all parts of the network. Building up an infrastructure of that magnitude requires big investments and must be done step by step, with each step bearing its own costs for the services supplied at a given moment. To combine a long term broadband strategy with short term profitability requirements is one of the greatest challenges facing today's network operators. This paper describes the network strategy that Swedish Telecom has chosen for the first steps in the network evolution towards a fibre-optical broadband network. To build a hierarchical transmission network with much higher transmission capacity in the central parts and a fibre-based ring structure far out in the local network, creates good opportunities for quickly meeting the total growing needs for capacity for individual customers by a fibre access and at the same time lay the foundations of a broadband network offering generic broadband services.