The Network Architecture Work Area develops the architecture and nodal requirements for end-to-end broadband deployments across traditional and converged networks to ensure the best possible quality of experience for users. The work area is the formation of the merger of former Broadband Forum Wireless Wireline Convergence (WWC) and Access & Transport Architecture (ATA) Work Areas. It will lead the integration of the wireless wireline convergence architecture into the main BBF architecture.
The Broadband Service Architecture (BSA) Project Stream published two new documents on Multi-Service Disaggregated BNG with CUPS TR-459 Issue 3 and TR-459 Issue 2 . TR-459i3 offers updated QoS and Access Control List (ACL) capabilities, with new use cases and call flows. Additionally, it introduces several key enhancements including improved resilience with Subscriber Groups (SGRP) for IP prefix management, and optimized subscriber management with better session state handling and AAA functions. The project stream continued work on BNG Disaggregation, which included the submission of proposals on energy saving and updated QoS for TR-459 Issue 4.
The work area also discussed a number of new ideas related to future work, including a potential new project on ‘Research on Microscopic Congestion Model of PON Ports’.
Work continued on ‘Security Considerations for IPv6 Broadband Networks’ WT-515. The document aims to provide development considerations and enhance IPv6. Progress was also made on the architecture of ‘Subscriber Session Steering’ WT-474, with work on key gap items, including system initialization, data models, and state model, moving the document towards completion.
The Quality of Experience (QoE) Project Stream continued its focus on the L4S project (WT-519), discussing the use cases and network requirements.
The Wireless Wireline Convergence (WWC) Project Stream continued key work on Multi-Tenant FWA, focusing on the BNG solution, with a full solution now described and specified. The group is aiming to publish ‘FWA solution for delivery inside an MDU/MTU’ WT-507 by end of 2025. A marketing document (MR-470) on the Value of WWC was published, with another document (MD-516) on the ‘Benefits of Multi-Tenant Fixed Wireless Access’ in progress. Discussions and planning took place around a potential Multi-Tenant FWA demonstration as part of the Broadband Forum Innovation Demonstrations at Network X 2025.
For more information on Network Architecture Work Area’s ongoing work, visit: https://wiki.broadband-forum.org/display/BBF/Network+Architecture+Work+Area.