Wireline Broadband Access

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) defines Broadband as transmission faster than primary rate ISDN i.e. 1.5 Mbit/s.

However, at present broadband is normally understood to be high speed internet i.e. greater than 256 kbit/s. Broadband wireline access to telecommunications networks includes services delivered over:

• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
• Cable TV networks (CATV)
• Power lines
• Optical fibres.

ETSI produces standards for wireline broadband access for a variety of different transmission media and technologies.

xDSL

ETSI's work on the various Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL ) technologies:

• Covers the application of all DSL technologies in Europe
• Covers coexistence with legacy systems and infrastructures
• Focuses on rational frequency management in the local loop.

Cable (telecommunications over CATV infrastructures)

ETSI's work on telecommunications over Cable Access Television (CATV) networks:

• Covers the application of TV cable technologies in Europe
• Covers lower layers (Euro-DOCSIS) and higher layers (Euro-IPCablecom)
• Considers the impact of the convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting.

PLT (Power Line Telecommunications)/PLC (Power Line Communications)

ETSI's work on broadband telecommunications over power lines:

• Covers all aspects of communications over power lines in Europe
• Gives special attention to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues
• Is supported by the 'white goods industry' aiming for Home Automation.

Optical fibre

ETSI's work on broadband access over optical fibre mostly follows the work of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

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