Dar es Salaam institute of Technology

(DIT)
ETU 08102
Digital Networks
Ally, J
jumannea@gmail.com
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Course Outline
SDH Network
IP Networks
MPLS Fundamentals
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
GSM Network
UMTS/HSPA Networks
LTE Network
WLAN Network

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Synchronous Digital
Hierarchy (SDH) Network

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Introduction
What is Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)?
SDH is a transmission system (protocol) which defines the
characteristics of digital signals, including frame structure,
multiplexing method, digital rates hierarchy and interface code
pattern
A synchronous digital transport system aimed at providing a more
simple, economical, and flexible telecommunications network
infrastructure
An International Standard for a high capacity optical
telecommunication network
Why did SDH emerge?
Need for a system to process increasing amounts of information
New standard that allows mixing equipment from different suppliers

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What is PDH?

The Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH) is a technology

used in telecommunications networks to transport large
quantities of data over digital transport equipment such as
fibre optic and microwave radio systems.
PDH networks run in a state where different parts of the
network are nearly, but not quite perfectly, synchronized.
PDH allows transmission of data streams that are nominally
running at the same rate, but allowing some variation on the
speed around a nominal rate
By analogy, any two watches are nominally running at the
same rate, clocking up 60 seconds every minute.
However, there is no link between watches to guarantee
they run at exactly the same rate, and it is highly likely that
one is running slightly faster than the other

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PCM-30 System (1/2)

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PCM-30 System (2/2)

Digital data and voice transmission is based on a 2.048 Mbit/s

bearer consisting of 30 time division multiplexed (TDM)
channels, each running at 64 Kbps.
The 2.048 Mbit/s bearer is known as E1. Channel 0 and 16 are
used to transmit additional signaling information within the
PCM-30 frame.
Increasing traffic over the past decade has demanded that more
and more of these basic E1 bearers be multiplexed together to
provide increased capacity.
At the same time, rates have increased through 8, 34, and 140
Mbit/s.
The highest capacity commonly encountered today for intercity
fibre optic links is 565 Mbit/s, with each link carrying 7,680 base
channels, and now even this is insufficient.

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PDH Systems Worldwide

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PDH Multiplexing

The common base for the multiplex levels of plesiochronous bearers is

represented by the 64 kbit/s channel.
One branch describes the multiplex levels of plesiochronous bearers in the
Japanese standard, one further branch shows the multiplex levels of the American
standard and a third one describes the conditions of the European standard.
Within the European standard the multiplex level 1 is made up of bearers with a
data rate of 2.048 Mbit/s. This rate is formed by the PCM-30 frame.
The Japanese and American standards possess a data rate of 1.544 Mbit/s. In this
case, 24 channels of 64 kbit/s each are multiplexed together. Multiplex level 2 is
achieved by multiplexing 4 bearers of level 1.
For the Japanese and American standards, this represents a multiplexed data rate
of 6.321 Mbit/s. The European standard has a combined data rate of 8.448 Mbit/s
for multiplex level 2.
In the European multiplex structure 4 bearers each of the corresponding
hierarchical level are multiplexed together to obtain the bearer for the next higher
multiplex level.

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Limitation of PDH

Existing PDH is point to point system

Optical Fiber capacity is under utilized
Difficulty in centralized supervision
Restoration of fault is time consuming
Manpower requirement is more
If 140 Mbps is passing through and the customer
wants one 2 Mbps, then we have to Demultiplex
from 140 Mbps to 2 Mbps for providing the 2 Mbps
The use of Justification Bits at different levels of
multiplexing means that locating the 2 Mbps in 140
Mbps is not possible
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Disadvantages of PDH (2)

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Why use SDH ?

No world standard on digital format (three

incompatible regional standards - European,
North American and Japanese)

No world standard for optical interfaces

Networking is impossible at the optical level

Rigid asynchronous multiplexing structure

Limited management capability

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When do we use SDH ?

When networks need to increase capacity,

SDH simply acts as a means of increasing
transmission capacity
When networks need to improve flexibility, to
provide services quickly or to respond to new
change more rapidly
When networks need to improve survivability
for important user services
When networks need to reduce operation
costs, which are becoming a heavy burden
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SDH Bit Rates

Comparison

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SDH Advantages

First world standard in digital format

First optical Interfaces
Transversal compatibility reduces networking cost. Multivendor environment drives price down
Flexible synchronous multiplexing structure
Easy and cost-efficient traffic add-and-drop and cross
connect capability
Network survivability
Auto restoration of faults in no time
Optimum utilization of optical Fiber Bandwidth
Centralized supervision by NMS, Less manpower
required
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SDH Advantages

Upgradation of system is easy

Existing PDH can work on SDH
Network Simplification- A single synchronous
multiplexer can perform the multiplexing function
Future Proof Networking SDH is able to handle video
on demand and all other new systems like ATM,
Ethernet, DVB, etc.
As the number of equipment are reduced, the space,
power consumption & the maintenance cost also
reduced
Bandwidth on demand - Any bandwidth required by
customer can be provided in short notice
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Advantages of SDH

Compatibility

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Synchronous Network Structure

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SDH Evolution
SDH evolution is possible because of the following factors :
Fibre Optic Bandwidth : The bandwidth in Optical Fibre can be
increased and there is no limit for it. This gives a great advantage for
using SDH
Technical Sophistication : Although, SDH circuitary is highly
complicated, it is possible to have such circuitary because of VLSI
technique which is also very cost effective
Intelligence : The availability of cheaper memory opens new
possibilities
Customer Service Needs : The requirement of the customer with
respect to different bandwidth requirements could be easily met without
much additional equipment. The different services it supports are :
1. Low/High speed data.
2. Voice
3. Interconnection of LAN
4. Computer links
5. Feature services like H.D.T.V.
6. Broadband ISDN transport (ATM transport)

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Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)

DS1: Digital signal level-1
DS3

TU-11

New services, Data,

Video, etc.

VC: Virtual Container

TU: Tributary Unit
STM-0

STM-0

VT1.5

VT1.5

VT1.5

VT1.5

VT1.5

VT1.5 TU-11

VT1.5

VT1.5

VT1.5

TU-11 TU-11 TU-11

STM-0

other other other

VC-3

TU-11 TU-11 TU-11

other other other

VT1.5

TU-11 TU-11 TU-11 TU-11

Standard SDH Rates

STM-0
STM-1
STM-4
STM-16
STM-64

51.84 Mb/s

Equivalent voice calls

672

155.52 Mb/s

2,016

622.08 Mb/s

8,064

2488.32 Mb/s

32,256

9953.28 Mb/s

129,024

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STM-0

SDH Frame Structure

Bit rate of STM-1= 9*270*8*8000=155.52Mbits/s

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SDH Frame Structure

Section Overhead (SOH) Area

operational functions
monitoring functions
control functions

Administrative Unit (AU)-Pointer

shows the beginning of the virtual container of the
highest level

Payload Area
transport of the data

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Information Payload

Also known as Virtual Container level 4 (VC-4)

Used to transport low speed tributary signals
Contains low rate signals and Path Overhead (POH)
Location: rows #1 ~ #9, columns #10 ~ #270

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Section Overhead (SOH)

Fulfills the section layer

OAM functions
Types of Section Overhead
1. RSOH monitor the
regenerator section
2. MSOH monitor the
multiplexing section
Location:
1. RSOH: rows #1 ~ #3,
columns #1 ~ #9
2. MSOH: rows #5 ~ #8,
columns #1 ~ #9

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Administrative Unit Pointer (AU-PTR)

Indicates the first byte of VC4

Location: row #4, columns #1 ~ #9

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Why do we need pointer

Neighboring network elements (NEs) may have different

bit rates
In one NE the frequency of input fin may differ from the
output fout
Tasks of the Pointer

The pointer shows the begin of the Virtual Container

within the higher structure
Adaptation of the bit rate of the VC to the velocity of the
transport channel (AU, TU)
A flag within the pointer signals the changes made
Kind of stuffing will be signalized also
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SDH Multiplexing

SDH Multiplexing includes:

Low to high rate SDH signals (STM-1 STM-N)

PDH to SDH signals (2M, 34M & 140M
STM-N)
Other hierarchy signals to SDH Signals (ATM STM-N)

Some terms and definitions:

Mapping - A process used when tributaries are adapted into

VCs by adding POH information
Aligning - This process takes place when a pointer is included
in a Tributary Unit (TU) or an Administrative Unit (AU), to allow
the 1st byte of the VC to be located
Multiplexing - This process is used when multiple low order
path signals are adapted into a higher-order path signal, or
when high-order path signals are adapted into a Multiplexing
Section

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SDH Multiplexing Structure

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STM-1 Signals as Transport Pipe

A STM-1 Signal Can Transport:

One 140 Mbit/s PDH Signal

Three 34 Mbit/s PDH Signals

Sixty-three 2 Mbit/s PDH Signals

Combinations, eg. twenty-one 2 Mbit/s and Two 34

Mbit/s PDH Signals

ATM cells, FDDI, DQDB Protocols, etc.

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Common SDH Network Element (NE)

TM (Terminal Multiplexer)
The terminal multiplexer is used to multiplex local
tributaries (low rate) to the STM-N (high rate) aggregate.
The terminal is used in the chain topology as an end
element

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Common SDH NE
ADM (Add and Drop Multiplexer)
The Add And Drop Multiplexer (ADM) passes the (high rate)
stm-N through from his one side to the other and has the
ability to drop or add any (low rate) tributary
The ADM used in all topologies

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Common SDH NE
REG-Regenerator
It mainly performs 3R function:
1R Re amplification
2R Retiming
3R Reshaping
It regenerates the clock and amplifies the incoming
distorted and attenuated signal. It derive the clock signal
from the incoming data stream.

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Common SDH NE
Digital Cross Connect (DXC)
Permits switching of transmission lines with different bitrate
DXC can add and drop lower-order signals

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PDH and SDH

Comparison

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Network Management System (NMS)

SDH aims to provide standardized, centralized O&M

system

SDH management

Performance management

Fault/Event management

Configuration management

Accounting management

Security management

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Photonic Networks

Submarine
Term.

Photonic Network
Operation System
(GMPLS)
3

OXC

OXC

Long-Haul Terrestrial
Backbone Nwk

OXC

OXC

WDM
Term.

International/
Submarine Network (Nwk)

OADM

2
SDH/SONET

OADM

OADM

Regional/Metro Nwk
OADM

Metro/Access Nwk
Photonic LAN/
Enterprise Nwk

100B-T Gb/10Gb Ether

PON
GMPLS: Generalized Multi Protocol Label Switching
OADM: Optical Add/Drop Multiplexing, OXC: DIT
Optical Cross-connect

Residential Nwk

Evolution of Photonic Networks

1 st Generation 2 nd Generation 3 rd Generation 4 th Generation
Point - to - point
WDM transmission
TRM
WDM
ILA

REG

Add - Drop function

with Ring configuration
Optical cross connect function
with Mesh configuration

OADM OADM
OADM
REG
ILA

OXC

OXC

Optical packet/processing
capability with wavelength
conversion

OXC
Optical Router
Optical
processing
1995

2000

2010

2005
YEAR

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2015

Photonic Technology Roadmap

Transmission
Capacity

2002 - 2005

2005 - 2010

2010 - 2020

2020 -

2 Tb/s

5 Tb/s

10 Tb/s

100 Tb/s

/Fiber

200

500

1000

Rate/ch.

10G/2.5G...
10G Ether

40G/10G...
(40G Ether?)

Band

100 nm

200 nm

160G/40G/10.
.
400 nm

CPU/Storage

1 Gb/s
(Elec. connect.)

10Gb/s

(Elec./Opt. connect.)

100Gb/s
(Opt. connect.)

Opt. routing
(10Tb/s)

All-opt. router
( 40Tb/s)

Ubiquitous
router

Opt. packet
Opt. signal process.
Opt. 3R
-conversion

OTDM
Q-PSK
Opt. IC
Cryptography

Quantum computer
Quantum optical
communication

Short pulse LD
Photonic crystal
Holey fiber
Quantum dots

Opt. nano-device
Opt. Memory
Lower loss fiber

Node/Server

OADM/OXC
(1 - 5 Tb/s)

DWDM
Technologies
Adaptive
compensation
Devices

Tunable-LD
VCSEL
Tunable filter
MEMS

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10000
> 1T
1000 nm
Noiseless amp.