Technical Committee (TC) Access, Terminals, Transmission and Multiplexing (ATTM) Activity Report 2022

Chair: Dominique Roche, Association eG4U

Responsible for the standardization of:

  • Access, terminals, transmission and multiplexing, including cabling, in-building power line technology, fixed radio equipment for access and mobile backhauling, installations, signal transmission and other forms of signal treatment up to digitalization, in the private and public domains, focusing on the specific technology, equipment, installations and regulatory aspects of the physical layer.
  • Operational KPIs to monitor global sustainability of ICT deployed services & networks in the field (e.g. Global KPIs, Smart Cities KPIs).

 

ETSI’s Access, Terminals, Transmission and Multiplexing committee (TC ATTM) addresses the operational and physical parts of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including broadband transmission networks, equipment and sites.

 

TC ATTM works closely with ETSI’s Industry Specification Group on Operational energy Efficiency for Users (ISG OEU). The two groups share the aim of improving the implementation of efficient ICT services (e.g., SmartM2M and oneM2M solutions) and increasing sustainability efficiency in operational networks and devices, as well as improving energy management efficiency and management of ICT waste in the operational period from implementation until end of life. The committee also shares information with other ETSI technical bodies: TC eHEALTH, TC CABLE, TC EE, TC RRS, TC SmartM2M, oneM2M, ISG F5G and ISG mWT.

The work of TC ATTM aligns closely with ETSI’s European SDO peers CEN and CENELEC in areas of shared interest. These include the operational sustainability and energy efficiency of smart cities and communities, conducted via the mechanism of the Installations and Cabling Co-operation Group. The committee also liaises with other external bodies, notably ITU-T SG5 (system and function access energy efficiency in 5G networks), ITU-T SG15 (networks, technologies and infrastructures for transport, access and home), ISO/IEC JTC1/WG11 (smart cities) and ISO/IEC JTC1/WG25 (interconnection of information technology equipment).

 

Working Group AT2 on Infrastructure, Physical Networks & Communication Systems

Working Group AT2 (Infrastructure, Physical Networks & Communication Systems) is responsible for the creation, development and maintenance of standards and specifications covering cabling, installations, communications systems and network services implementation. 2022 saw publication of three deliverables:

 

  • Revised Technical Specifications TS 102 873 on optical external network testing interface, and TS 101 573 101 573 on general engineering of optical building cabling to align with CENELEC documents EN50173-1, EN50173-4 and EN 50700;
  • ETSI Specification on Carbon Intensity Management; operational infrastructures; implementation of global KPIs (ES 205 200-3-2 Part 3: ICT Sites; Sub-part 2: DCCM).

 

Sustainable Digital Multiservice Communities

The Working Group on SDMC (Sustainable Digital Multiservice Communities) in TC ATTM is responsible for the creation, development and maintenance of standards and other deliverables in regard to the relationship between deployment of ICT systems and implementation of services within cities and communities.

 

Organized by SDMC, a physical event on ‘Responsible digital at the service of the sustainable city’ was held in Bordeaux on 7-8-9 June in collaboration with Bordeaux Métropole and the EUROCITIES network. Exploring standardization perspectives in smart cities and communities, the successful event attracted more than hundred participants. Plans are in development for further workshops, with the next scheduled to be held in collaboration with Montrouge City, Métropole du Grand Paris, eG4U NGO and the Eurocities network.

Activities progressed on waste management monitoring and efficient ICT solutions in smart communities. Further to the European Commission Directive on a universal charger for electronic devices, SDMC launched work on a new Technical Specification (to be published as TS 102 284-7) as part of the Series on ‘External Common Power Supply for Customer Premises Network and Access Equipment’. This new Part 7 addresses Universal Power Supplies based on USB Type-C and USB PD (Power Delivery), aiming to establish a series of standard power supply sizes with maximized compatibility to reduce e-waste and improve global efficiency.

SDMC also progressed work on revisions to Part 1 of its Technical Specification (TS 110 174-1) on Broadband Deployment and Energy Management that considers societal and technical pillars for sustainability in digital multiservice cities and communities.

 

Working Group TM4 (point-to-point and multipoint radio systems):

Working Group TM4 develops specifications for point-to-point and multipoint radio systems in the fixed service, used in core and access networks, including mobile service backhauling. During the year TM4 made revisions to various European Standards and accompanying Harmonised European Standards, including deliverables in response to the M/536 under the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU).

 

Achieving citation in the OJEU in March 2022 (following original publication in late 2021), EN 302 217-2 V3.3.1 details characteristics and requirements for point-to-point equipment and antennas; Part 2: Digital systems operating in frequency bands from 1 - 86 GHz; Harmonised Standard for access to radio spectrum.

Work in TM4 meanwhile progressed on several Work Items, notably:

  • Study on characteristics and requirements for W and D bands (92-174.8 GHz) point-to-point equipment and antennas
  • PP passive antennas - preliminary study on RPE for 92-114.25 GHz and 130-174.8 GHz bands
  • Implementation of findings for W and D bands into EN 302 217
  • Study on characteristics and requirements for active (time varying) antenna and related radio specifications used in PP FS bands
  • ‘Housekeeping’ on EN 301 997 series (including HS under R&TTE Directive), now superseded by EN 302 326-2.

Working Group TM6 (Wireline Access Network Systems)

The activities of Working Group TM6 are focussed on metallic access networks, metallic support transmission systems and the reuse of existing infrastructure, including power line transmission.

 

During the year work launched on a new Technical Report, presenting use cases based on reuse of existing infrastructure and the deployment of video surveillance systems on existing coaxial infrastructure.

 

See the full list of TC ATTM Work Items currently in development here.

 

Interaction with external bodies

During 2022 TC ATTM maintained ongoing interaction with several external bodies:

 

  • ITU-T SG5 (system and function access energy efficiency in 5G networks)
  • ITU-T SG15 (xDSL, G.fast and reverse powering, physical networks)
  • ITU-R WP5C (fixed wireless systems)
  • ISO/IEC JTC1/WG11 (smart cities)
  • CENELEC TC215 ‘Electrotechnical Aspects of Telecommunication Equipment’ in relation to VDSL2 test signals and physical infrastructure of optical networks for ICT premises
  • CENELEC TC209 ‘Cable networks for television signals, sound signals and interactive services’ regarding safety on RPF over coax
  • CENELEC TC86BXA ‘Fibre optic interconnect, passive and connectorised components’
  • ECC WGPT SE19 (fixed service)
  • Broadband Forum (RPF over coax)