DSL2 Trial

1
ADSL2 Trial iiNet Limited Michael Crone
(Project Lead) Jock Main (Engineering Lead)
2
Business Requirement

• Current iiNet BB2 plans allow maximum
• speeds of 8Mbs
• Marketing wish to launch higher speed products,
  taking advantage of the networks ability to
  support the ADSL2 and ADSL 2 standards

3
CPE Concerns

• CPE concerns were initially raised some weeks ago
  through
• Ongoing Lab Testing
• Feedback to the Call Centre
• Feedback via online forums
• It appears that there is some CPE in the market
  that, whilst claiming to support the newer
  standards, actually fails to do so effectively.

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Aim of Trial

• The primary objective of the trial was to
  ascertain the percentage of CPE in the network
  that will fail (isolate customer) once we enable
  ADSL 2/2
• We intend to change the configuration of the
  network to let it auto negotiate the ADSL
  standard with the customers modem

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Current Profile

• As fast as you can go, up to 8mbit
• Only allows modems to use ADSL1 transmission
  modes
• Current profile for users on iiDSLAM that bundle
  iiphone with iibb2.
• In use on over 11,000 lines right now

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Current Profile
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ADSL2 Trial Profile

• As fast as you can go, up to 12mbit
• Allows modems to use ADSL1, ADSL2 or ADSL2
  transmission modes
• Has been trialled internally with staff and small
  public trial on Whirlpool
• Feedback inconclusive (technical sample group,
  distorted results)

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ADSL2 Trial Profile
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Control Group

• Closed trial on sample of customers in 4 largest
  exchanges.
• Mount Hawthorn, WA
• Subiaco, WA
• Mullaloo, WA
• Bateman, WA
• Total Sample Size 910 Customers
• Eligability Criteria Must be on high speed plans
  (ie have BB2 iiphone)

10
Trial Timeframe

• Limited timeframe to test.
• Marketing required direction from Network
  Services on potential CPE problems
• 1 week preparation
• 1 week collect base data for comparison
• 1 week collect ADSL2 data
• Collate and report

11
Reporting

• Two reports available
• Statistics from PEM / databases on PPP Sync
• Gauge the of customers ringing the call centre
  with difficulties
• Build tools to collate stats to build a trend
• before after for comparison
• Tools setup for CC to roll back customers if
• suffering problems. Capture these requests

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Outcomes from Trial

• Control Group (start of trial) 910
• Control Group (end of trial) 891
• Control Group Change 19
• Users removed from the control group because
• CPE Stability - 12 customers rolled back (eg,
  customer rang requesting to be put back to
  old profile)
• Trial Window - 7 customers were not active for
  the entire trial window (provisioning,
  adds/moves)

13
Results - Sync

• The following graph shows the number of CPE
  devices that that established sync with the
  DSLAM, samples

The sync data can be misleading as up to 20 of
our customers turn off their CPE at night or use
USB powered modems. There is a measurable gap
between the number of modems obtaining sync prior
to the changes to after. On average, this is
about 30 customers
14
Results - PPP

• The following graph shows an averaged 24hr cycle
  of PPP sessions prior and post the trial

As expected, there is a difference in the number
of PPP sessions prior to the trial (ADSL1 config)
and post trial (ADSL 2/2) averages to a
difference of approximately 2.5
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Results - Summary

• Average number of users with sync
• before trial was 770,
• after trial 735.
• less than 5 of users affected by the change.
• Affected users are in line with expected CPE in
  the user base we are seeing have problems in the
  lab.
• Need to ensure iiNet supplied CPE (past, present
  future) work with iiNet DSLAMs.

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Recommendation

• Trial data supports the release of ADSL2 ADSL2
  transmission modes
• Increase speeds to a maximum of 12mbit.
• Finalise agreement for an exclusive supply
  agreement with a CPE manufacturer (we are in
  final stages of tender)

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Next Steps

• Continue CPE trial
• Focus on ADSL2 units available to public
• Create a supported list of CPE
• Start planning for a ADSL2 trial that allows
  speeds up to 24mbit.
• Work closely with Ericsson to get feedback from
  their other customers globally
• 24Mbit is being investigated further.
• Limited User Trial (staff, selected customers)