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MARCH

Title: Multilink Architecture for Multiplay Services

Coordinator: Terje Tjelta, e-mail: terje.tjelta (at) telenor.com

Involved countries: Norway, Hungary, France, Spain, Austria, Romania

 

Abstract

The trend today is for widespread, easy access to advanced broadband services. People will expect to be able to connect to a broadband network for business and personal use, irrespective of time, terminal and location. The consumed content may be generated in any part of the network and will include both professional production and user generated content. Access to content will involve both peer-to-peer usages as well as centralised service delivery.

MARCH aims at significantly lowering the cost of converged broadband service delivery by establishing scalable multilink network architectures.

MARCH addresses key issues for ubiquitous broadband access with a particular focus on service provision under the new broadband reality and network architecture effective for connecting all types of users, either fixed or on the move. The project aims at convergence of broadband, mobile, and broadcast approaches and its application to urban and rural deployment.

Focus areas are:

1) Broadband, mobile and broadcast convergence

Convergence between broadband, mobile, and broadcast services is central in delivering ubiquitous and seamless services. MARCH focuses on a multilink architecture whereby terminals operate dynamically over several broadband/broadcast access networks simultaneously enabling intelligent multi-service provision offering enhanced service availability and improved resource utilisation.

2) Modular scalable architecture

MARCH will recommend a modular scalable architecture for multilink networks, provide standardisation inputs such that networks can be realised at significantly lower cost. Networks have to scale well with both allowing a start with low demand and flexible growth.

3) Genuine broadband access

Multilink network architecture for improved broadband access for sparsely and densely populated areas, offering the full range of advanced broadband services. Provide broadband to developing communities and emerging markets with poor telecom infrastructure.