Incumbent local-exchange carriers (ILECs) will be looking to triple-play services (voice, data, and video) to fend off cable competition and renew revenue growth. Fortunately, loop carrier technology advancements now enable networks that provide scalable bandwidth and employ an Internet protocol (IP)-based service-delivery model that allows for profitable voice, data, and video offerings.

Overview
This tutorial will discuss how current access networks must change to meet the triple-play bandwidth and service-delivery challenge. They must change to provide high-capacity bandwidth that handles the traffic efficiently to deliver IP-based broadcast video and video on demand (VoD), high speed IP-based data services including Gigabit Ethernet, and even voice over IP (VoIP) as part of a circuit-to-packet voice switch migration. Access networks based on TDM/SONET/ATM will not scale sufficiently and do not fit smoothly in an IP-based service world. Regardless of current and near-term service offerings, it may be essential to invest in a distribution plant that can support current operations as well as smooth the transition to a triple-play network for the long-term future. For lowest cost and seamless operation, an Ethernet and IP-based access network is one potential solution.