The increasing demand for open access networks and wholesale network offerings has led to the need for sharing last-mile fiber networks among multiple Virtual Network Operators (VNOs). To address this, the Broadband Forum developed the TR-370 specification, which defines how a single access network owned by an infrastructure provider (InP) can be shared by multiple VNOs, a concept known as Fixed Access Network Sharing (FANS).
FANS allows multiple VNOs to leverage the same fiber infrastructure, reducing the need for redundant deployments and maximizing resource utilization. The 2024 Broadband Forum Innovation Demonstrations showcased various FANS implementations, highlighting the flexibility and efficiency of this technology.
Network Slicing: The Foundation of FANS
The TR-370 specification outlines different methods for network slicing, which is the process of creating virtual partitions within the physical network to serve different VNOs. This can be achieved at the management plane, where the InP's centralized management system provides each VNO with a virtualized view of the network. Alternatively, slicing can occur at both the management and data planes, with each VNO controlling virtual Access Nodes (vANs) and potentially other virtualized functions.
FANS Demonstrations: Realizing the Potential of Network Sharing
The FANS demonstrations showcased a combination of management plane and SDN-based slicing, with a management overlay sitting on top of an SDN controller owned by the InP. Nokia/Condor and Netsia demonstrated their respective FANS solutions, both utilizing an SDN-enabled centralized management system to enable VNOs to perform service activation and monitoring. Incognito provided the integration of business support and operational support systems (OSS/BSS) for both solutions, ensuring seamless end-to-end provisioning and service assurance.
2024 Fixed Access Network Sharing block diagram.
Incognito's Role: Bridging the Gap Between Network and Business
Incognito played a crucial role in the FANS demonstrations by providing the OSS/BSS integration layer that enabled the abstraction of the network layer from the business layer. This allowed for seamless provisioning, closed-loop automation of service provisioning and assurance, and the ability to manage all customer services, including connectivity and QoS, for multiple VNOs. By leveraging TM Forum's Open Digital Architecture and open API standards, Incognito ensured interoperability and facilitated end-to-end service orchestration across multiple access domain controllers.
Nokia/Condor's Wholesale Network Portal
Nokia/Condor's Wholesale Network Portal (WNP) offers a lightweight solution for sharing an Altiplano Access Controller among multiple VNOs. The WNP provides VNOs with APIs and GUIs for managing Intent Based Networking, Performance Management, and Fault Management, while ensuring that each VNO can only access and control their own devices and services. Importantly, it follows OB-CAS defined interfaces to make it controller agnostic and available as an application to interface with different access controllers.
Netsia's BBSuite: A Comprehensive FANS Solution
Netsia's BBSuite is a comprehensive FANS solution that supports various device types, including Whitebox OLTs, legacy OLTs, and BBF native OLTs. BBSuite provides a user-friendly interface for both InPs and VNOs, with VNOs having visibility only into their own devices and profiles, and InPs having system-wide visibility for monitoring network health. BBSuite also supports standard northbound interfaces for seamless integration with third-party OSS/BSS systems.
FANS – Driving Efficiency, Competition, and New Business Models
The FANS demonstrations highlight the potential of network sharing to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in fiber access networks. By enabling multiple VNOs to share the same infrastructure, FANS promotes competition and innovation in the telecommunications industry. The showcased solutions, including Nokia/Condor's WNP and Netsia's BBSuite, offer flexible and scalable approaches to FANS implementation, paving the way for wider adoption of this technology. Incognito's OSS/BSS integration layer plays a crucial role in enabling end-to-end service orchestration and ensuring interoperability between different FANS solutions.