Senior Director, Market Insights and Solutions Marketing, Calix

linkedin.com/in/alan-dicicco/

Moving subscriber management closer to the subscriber and consolidating multiple functions related to provisioning, managing, and maintaining subscriber services simplifies operations and saves time and money. Teresa McGaughey wrote an excellent article, “The Easy Way To Simplify Your Network and Reduce Recurring Fees by 95 Percent” on this topic in last month’s Beacon, highlighting Highland Telephone Cooperative’s (HTC) journey to a simplified network.

But consolidating subscriber management functions is not the end of the journey. Integrating routing into your Layer 2 access network architecture is the next step—and it has at least four major benefits for the subscriber service network, including:

1. Interconnecting access networks to provide resiliency and avoid costly service outages when fibers are cut
2. Leveraging routing protocols to better utilize network capacity and improve network efficiency
3. Logically connecting outsourced upstream VoIP services into the local service domain without major capital investment
4. Implementing a wealth of Layer 3 policy tools to enhance network and subscriber security

All these network architecture choices have direct business benefits that are sometimes as easy to quantify as 100 percent higher network capacity utilization or network redundancy where there was none in the past. Ethen Webinger, CTO of Acentek, spoke during ConneXions 2020 on how Acentek is leveraging the advanced routing capabilities of the AXOS platform and E9-2 ASM3001 to get their community connected to the most advanced broadband service.

What is a Subscriber Service?

Let’s start by defining a subscriber service by its two end points. One is the home gateway router, where the subscriber’s private home network connects to the service provider’s Layer 2 access network. At the other end of the subscriber service is the broadband network gateway (BNG) router, where the Ethernet connection transitions back to a connectionless IP flow bound for the wide, wild world of the internet

Between these two end points, the service—an IP flow—crosses over the Layer 2 access network, is aggregated by Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches, and finally terminates on the gateway router.  Yes, the service offers a high-speed internet connection (that your subscribers want and need). But the service also makes your network reliable, operationally efficient, and secure for both you and your subscribers.

To achieve these objectives, we need to leverage the best of Layer 2 and Layer 3

The Right Way To Add Beneficial Routing To Your Access Network

Identifying the optimal architecture for the subscriber service network can be a complex task. Put the two gateway routers too far apart and subscribers will experience increased latency as they surf the web. Make the Layer 2 access network too big and it becomes susceptible to broadcast storms; too small and you become vulnerable to service outages when fiber cuts occur. Think of the subscriber service as nothing more than a simple connection and you open yourself up to cybersecurity threats and denial-of-service attacks.

When considered together, Layer 3 networking capabilities make Layer 2 access networks more reliable, efficient, and secure. The networking advantages and benefits of moving routing closer to the subscriber edge are clear and compelling. Calix solutions engineers and network consultants are ready to help you build a subscriber service delivery network that will simplify your business, excite your subscribers, and grow your value.

Your Recommended Action Plan

• Watch: "Routing at the Access Edge: Need a More Scalable and Secure Access Network?" (webinar replay)
• Watch: "How to Bring Network Reliability, Security, and Simplicity Within Reach" (webinar replay) 

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Senior Director, Services Marketing, Calix

linkedin.com/in/thomasschroer

The pandemic has taught everyone how much we need fast, reliable, broadband service in our homes. This need has been a boon for broadband businesses—but it also comes with challenges, especially for smaller service providers.

In the last few years, Ciello went “from an idea to 5,800 subscribers,” says its chief technology officer, Monroe Johnson. And, in the last year alone, Ciello experienced record 25 percent increase in subscriber growth, precipitated not only by the rise of people working and learning from home due to COVID-19, but also by an influx of new residents drawn to the unique beauty of the Valley and its access to affordable, reliable broadband.

To augment their technical team and get guidance on an array of topics to quickly help them simplify their network and scale for growth, Ciello turned to Calix Network Consulting.

All the Ways Calix Network Consulting Helped Ciello Offer Amazing Broadband Service

Calix Network Consulting Services worked with Ciello’s engineering team to:

• Practically eliminate service outages by overcoming technical challenges related to broadcast storms 
• Implement configuration changes that hardened their network to protect it from potential security threats
• Improved reliability, resiliency, and scalability by integrating the Calix AXOS E9-2 Intelligent EDGE System into their network (moving IP Layer 3 capabilities further out into the access and implementing MPLS)

E9-2 Provides the Ideal Platform to Let Rural Broadband Providers Build World Class Networks

“We learned about the E9-2 system at a Calix ConneXions and thought it would be ideal for our deployment because we are a rural broadband provider,” said Ernesto Villaba, network specialist for Ciello. The Calix network consultant worked closely with the Ciello team and started them on their journey of substantially transforming their network into a service-delivery powerhouse.

Together, they developed a plan to integrate Ciello’s existing E7-2 Intelligent Modular System deployment into the E9-2. This will allow them to scale with improved operational efficiency and position them to offer new services to their businesses and educational institutions. For example, Ciello is now able to respond definitively to requests for 10Gig services from schools in the Valley. “For once we are ahead of the demand from our subscribers! We are proactive and not playing catch up,” said Johnson.

Build a Better Network With Calix Network Consulting

Calix can help the smallest broadband service providers design and deploy a future proof, world class broadband network. “I would highly recommend electric cooperatives thinking of getting into this business—or, like us, those that have been in it for several years and need upgrades, fixes, or efficiencies—turn to Calix professional services,” said Johnson. “It's well worth the time and the money, and the outcomes are positive.”

Your Recommended Action Plan

• Watch: “Put Reliability, Security, and Simplicity in Your Reach” (webinar recording)
• Download: “Calix Network Consulting Services” (solution brief)
• Watch: Ciello and Calix Services Join Up for Improved Results (video)

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