Broadband Forum Focuses On Connection Quality In Support Of 5G

Vodafone and Predictable Network Solutions are leading a new Broadband Forum project that focuses on connection quality features including latency and reliability, as part of wired networks’ preparation for 5G.

Broadband Quality Experience Delivered, or Broadband QED, use the Quality Attenuation framework “to look beyond just data rate and deliver greater insight into the quality of experience and application outcomes,” according to Broadband Forum, including aspects of latency, consistency, predictability and reliability. The QA framework is for “capturing, measuring, managing and manipulating the performance aspects of networks, as well as the services they enable,” the Forum added.

Vodafone said it has already trialed QA on various fixed access technologies in its own network, and that it has used it to “identify broadband performance characteristics that ‘traditional’ packet layer performance techniques and tools failed to reveal.”

“As an industry, we’ve increased the speed of broadband to one gigabit and beyond, which is a remarkable achievement, but we now have to look beyond speed,” said Gavin Young, head of Vodafone’s Fixed Access Centre of Excellence, in a statement. “Historically, we have looked at the data rate and ping time but now, as new applications place more strain on networks, we need to make the network invisible so users don’t even know it is there – we want to get to a place where everything just works. That means we need to improve other aspects of quality such as latency, consistency, predictability and reliability, ultimately moving from a fast network to an invisible network.”

The Broadband QED project will include a document that gives a comprehensive overview of the technology and its applicability to broadband networks, with a second phase exploring the specific applicability to Broadband Forum work area. The Forum noted that this project is one of several initiatives focusing on quality of experience in broadband networks.

“Our renewed focus on network quality of experience emphasizes Broadband Forum’s commitment to ensuring the whole network – from the cloud central office to the connected home – is prepared for growing technologies and trends such as 5G and proliferation of connected devices,” said Geoff Burke, CMO of Broadband Forum. “Broadband QED is an excellent initiative which marks a significant turning point for broadband as operators begin to turn their attention from speed to other elements of connectivity to create a world-class broadband experience for their customers.”―RCRWireless News