Bit-stream access

Bitstream access (English bitstream access) is a method for telephone companies to end users with high-speed data connection ( for example, Internet, VoIP) to offer, without having to run infrastructure to the "last mile " from the core network to the end user. This last part of the data transfer, the historically established network operators, who already has appropriate infrastructure (eg DSLAM). This is a wholesale product that offers the incumbent network operator or its competitors have to offer.

Bitstream access complements ( in undeveloped by collocation service areas ) unbundling, especially the line sharing ( "Shared bitstream ").

Occasionally, the provision of unbundled DSL inputs by other providers (which it in turn rely usually on the fully unbundled line of the incumbent operator ) under " bitstream access " subsumed. Such goods and services are offered in Germany for example, QSC, Telefónica and Vodafone and eg demand of United Internet.

• 2.1 IP bitstream access 2.1.1 Impact of IP bitstream access

Definition

" Bitstream access at high speed means that the incumbent has a high-speed connection to the customer establishes ( by installing its preferred ADSL equipment and configuration in its local access network, for example ) and this compound is then available to third parties is so that they can offer high-speed services. The incumbent may also provide transmission services its competitors in order to forward the traffic at a higher level in the network hierarchy where new entrants may already (eg a transit switch location ) may be present. "

The EU Commission has identified in its Recommendation on relevant product and service markets within the electronic communications sector of 17 December 2007 7 markets susceptible to ex ante regulation. One of these markets is the No. 5 market broadband access on a wholesale / bitstream access (formerly: Market No. 12 broadband access on a wholesale Markets Recommendation of 2003).

Practical realization

The infrastructure of the regulated bitstream access is the dominant provider in Germany, so the German Telekom, installed and operated. This is the DSL connection over the local loop (ie the distance from the termination point to the DSLAM ), the continuation of traffic over a subsequent concentration of power (usually on ATM technology based ) to a defined handover point at which the traffic to the alternative network operators is passed. The interface for the bit stream of the data is directly either ATM or IP-level. Through this approach can provide the customers own high bit-rate services to the alternative provider.

Germany

Germany took in broadband regulation within the European Union for a long time a special position, since, contrary to the usual bitstream access only in the alternative offered by the German Telekom replacement wholesale products ( product bundles from T- DSL resale port and optional T-DSL CISP ISP gate or T -OC - DSL) were available for the provision of bitstream services.

In contrast to bitstream access this light, the regulated bitstream access optionally allows a direct and exclusive end-customer relationship, unbundled from the telephone connection of the dominant network operator.

The measures provided for under EU regulatory framework and ERG - point qualitative product differentiation bitstream access over the DSL offerings of the incumbent (usually through their own DSLAM switching parameters and profiles) have not been implemented in Germany by the intended for the mass market product IP bitstream access. The shared version of IP bitstream access accordingly corresponds largely to the alternative offered by Telekom T- DSL connection resale in connection with T- DSL CISP.

IP bitstream access

The regulatory order for IP bitstream access was adopted in September 2006 after a long lead time by the Federal Network Agency, included the obligation of Deutsche Telekom to submit an approvable standard contract offer for IP bitstream access within three months and is under a pre - approval requirement, both in terms of contents and the pricing (so-called ex -ante regulation ). The subsequent duration of the procedure from a half to two years was met with heavy criticism; the European Commission asked the Federal Network Agency in a letter dated 18 June 2007 and repeated on November 22, 2007, " to ensure the full enforcement of ATM and IP bitstream obligations within the shortest possible time frame ." The first hook-up of ADSL bitstream lines eventually were made after several other procedural delays in mid-August 2008; the provided interfaces and electronic order product configuration interface under the symbol wholesale IT architecture ( WITA ) were delayed significantly and have large deficits.

Contrary to the stipulations in the jointly developed position paper the ERG in terms of bitstream access and contrary to their claims receive the provider in Germany is no way for deviating from the previous T- DSL resale marketing DSLAM switching parameters and profiles, and in this respect only to that of referred Telekom contemplated subsequent conversion of their self-marketed ADSL connections on rate-adaptive profiles.

The IP bitstream regulatory order provides a range of approaches to both ADSL and ADSL2 on - and SDSL - based before and the transfer of traffic into the network of alternative providers based on the previous 73 T-DSL-ZISP broadband PoPs on the level 3 of the OSI layer model.

Impact of IP bitstream access

Fixed network subscriber can forego by the possible with the unbundled bitstream access offer standalone of all-IP connections on a conventional telephone connection at Deutsche Telekom, even if their budget is not accessible through DSL technology of alternative providers. The rent for the unbundled local loop (ULL ), which was previously paid for by the basic fee for the bundled with the T -DSL resale line telecom landline connection, it factored into the fee for IP bitstream wholesale.

Given the non-existent in Germany Telekom fixed-line resale offer only the standalone IP bitstream access created the conditions that competitors of Deutsche Telekom which dominate the market complete packages with flat rates for broadband Internet access and phone calls to landline phone numbers as well as triple-play services nationwide (ie the entire T- DSL expansion area ) even in the relatively sparsely populated areas where the DSLAM colocation business model because of high fixed costs and low network density is not economically ( which currently affects about 30-40% of the can offer population in Germany ). DSL offers of telecom competitors with a bundled phone line from Deutsche Telekom, which could also be implemented with T- DSL resale, were in the last days before the provision of unbundled IP bitstream access already practically unsaleable, with its VoIP - based offerings win the competition in addition to the phone call revenue, which formerly accounted for by the conventional telephone connection of the Telekom.

For IP bitstream access the German Telekom routes the traffic forcibly in the default network. This is alternative DSLbyCall offers only usable if they are implemented on the same network as that of the private provider. This choice is thus, as all major network providers provide their services as Resale multiple vendors. DSLbyCall on the Telefonica network is available eg via easybell and on the Freenet network via Avego.

Since the rate-adaptive circuit of bitstream connections will only be available if Telekom offers this technology for its own end user and the space provided during the bitstream regulatory process forward in the fourth quarter of 2008, delayed serious, a significant number of DSL participants continue to date ( spring 2010) will not be achieved with an All-IP Offered by the bitstream buyers. The same applies to participants who are connected by Deutsche Telekom outdoor DSLAMs, as the telecom there because of shortcomings in their software no unbundled ADSL, detached from a telecom landline, on, as it was arranged in the IP bitstream regulatory procedures.

VDSL2 is currently exempt from the bitstream obligation because it is not marketed by Deutsche Telekom as a substitution of conventional ADSL access. Since the summer of 2009, however, the Telekom VDSL2 marketed without the previously obligatory triple play and offers competitors a VDSL2 resale marketing to.

ATM bitstream access

At the 51 telecom ATM network node ( level 2 of the OSI layer model ), the network operator can set up permanent virtual connections with the participants of the DSL network in different data rates. For these virtual connections traffic classes are offered currently two: UBR and VBRplus. UBR is a traffic class for data streams with low real-time requirements such as IP, VBRplus has limited suitability for audio and video streams. For high quality video transmission, the traffic categories CBR or VBRr are required that provide a guaranteed quality of service for HDTV video signals. These traffic categories are not yet available but would be for access to future VDSL network of Telekom useful.

The available with the obligation of Telekom to submit a standard contract offer for ATM bitstream access was adopted in March 2007, with the Federal Network Agency has decided in this case for a supply and price control on mere suspicion of abuse based in hindsight ( ex post regulation) and thus overrides objections from the EU Commission, which had raised against it, after the ex-post regulation methods of line-sharing access in Germany from early 2001 to mid-2004, lasted about three and a half years.

Switzerland

According to recast the Swiss Telecommunications Act, Swisscom Fixnet was obliged to offer a bitstream access from April 2007, which Swisscom but refused so far having regard to what they see as not given dominant position. The biggest competitor Sunrise then submitted a complaint and was developed by the Federal Communications Commission ( ComCom) in November 2007 confirmed. Swisscom appealed against this ComCom decision before the Federal Administrative Court. This dismissed the case in February 2009. Swisscom has now announced, expected to offer a full bitstream access for foreign providers as of November 2009.

In November 2007, Swisscom decided to market its programs offered to their own end customers since end of August 2007 unbundled broadband access is also available through resellers. However, these resale wholesale bitstream does not meet the specifications of the possible individual provider - defined quality parameters.