Fixed-line Access

Introduction

Originally, access to the public telecommunication networks over the local loop (subscriber line) was by analogue technology over twisted pair copper wires to support voice and low rate data (e.g. fax). Thanks to technological developments, those twisted pairs can now be used to carry digital signals (e.g. Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN) or used for voiceband plus digital data as in the variants of Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL).

Other technologies also offer the customer a telecommunications 'pipe' to and from the home. These include:

• Broadband multimedia service over CATV (Cable Access Television)
• Broadband over Power Line transmission (PLT)
• Broadband over coaxial cable and optical fibre.

Our Role & Activities

ETSI has recently merged two committees to form a technical committee for Access, Terminals, Transmission and Multiplexing (ATTM). This committee is responsible for the standards for fixed line access.

The access technologies include narrow band (Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN, and Public Switched Telephone Service, PSTN) and Broadband over Cable Access Television (CATV). TC ATTM also develops the standards for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) filters.

Technical committee PLT (Power Line Transmission) deals with standards for broadband access over power lines.

ETSI's TISPAN committee is responsible for the numbering and addressing aspects of gaining access to telecommunication networks.

Standards

The following is a list of recently published and frequently downloaded standards. Please use the ETSI Work Programme to find further related standards.