Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. User Perspectives, Provider Realities

2. Far More Than the Loop

3. A Manual Problem

4. Automated Solution

5. The LEC and DSL

6. DSL and the NAP

7. NSP and DSL

8. Conclusion

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Definition
Communications service providers have invested billions on the marketing and buildout of new digital subscriber line (DSL) networks and services. Yet despite their substantial spending, the delivery and management of high-quality DSL–based services remains an enormous challenge for carriers.

Overview
Unlike traditional plain old telephone service (POTS) or pure data, DSL relies upon myriad systems and multivendor equipment of disparate networks not designed to integrate and share information. What is more, DSL providers still largely depend upon inflexible, manual processes that are inadequate for wide-scale DSL deployment, making providers struggle to activate and assure the number of subscribers needed for rapid revenue recognition. Added pressure from increasing competition and fast-changing technologies also underscores the need to shorten time to market and troubleshoot problems rapidly to provide superior quality of service (QoS) and compete more effectively.