All Fibre Technology in England’s Highways Agency ‘All

Purpose Trunk Roads’

Gabriel E. Ozique
MBA, B.Sc. (Hon), M.Sc., FIET, C.Eng.
Senior Fellow, Director Telecommunication Engineering
Fluor Ltd.
9 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park,
Quinton, Birmingham B32 1AF
England.
gabriel.ozique@fluor.com

David Bradbrook (B.Sc.)

NRTS Leader
Highways Agency
Temple Quays House
2 The Square
Temple Quays, Bristol BS1 6HA.
England
Email: david.bradbrook@highways.gsi.gov.uk
ABSTRACT
Highways Agency (HA) in England implemented Internet Protocol (IP), Multiple Protocol
Label Switching Label (MPLS) and Coarse Wave Division Multiplex (CWDM),
Transmission System Core network in 2007 to monitor, control and manage traffic on
English Motorways and ‘All Purpose Trunk Roads’. This was done through a Fluor
International Ltd led consortium called GeneSYS Telecommunication Ltd. GeneSYS
provides a ‘one-stop shop’ Telecommunications Services to the HA.

There are 11 service categories currently being provided to the HA. These are:
1) Signals and Monitoring,
2) Traffic Detection (MIDAS),
3) Analogue Emergency Roadside Telephones - ERT (now being phrased out),
4)Analogue Closed Circuit Television (CCTV – phrased out),
5) X .25 (phased out),
6) Point to Point analogue Circuits,
7) Public Telecommunications Services
8) IP Services,
9) Point to Point Data Circuit,
10) Switched Video Services,
11) Voice Over Internet Protocol ERT.

Fibre Optics cables link 150 transmission nodes (Transmission Stations) by the motorway.
Copper cables are used to link voice and data services to ‘Service Delivery Point (SDP)’ on
the roadside (the last mile). Fibre Optic cable is used for linking video services from the
roadside to the node (Transmission Station). The maximum bandwidth for the links using
copper cable is 2Mbps. When Fibre is used, this can be increased up to 1Gbps.

The use of ITS in the effective and efficient management of traffic is increasingly being
recognised. More data is required to be sent/ received to/ from signalling and monitoring
devices and traffic detection devices to the Command and Control Centres, to enable
effective management of congestion.

To this end, a Fibre-Only Technology solution has been designed, successfully implemented
and trialled on an ‘All Purpose Trunk Road (A14)’ in England.

This article will analyse the technological options considered for the implementation and trial
for this ‘All Fibre solution’, the merits and de-merits of each options, and the benefit of the
chosen option.

INTRODUCTION
This article describes the solutions possible for deploying services through an all fibre
solution. The use of fibre only solutions was compared to the existing solution using fibre and
copper cables. Benefits of an all-fibre optic cable system such as increased bandwidth and
range of transmission were also reviewed.

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The proposed solution has been designed to be capable of supporting all the service types that
may be installed on the existing network; including but are not limited to digital CCTV,
MIDAS and Variable Message Signs (VMS). The solution needed to be both flexible,
scalable and meet the resilience requirements of the intended services.

The technologies considered suitable for deployment are Gigabit Passive Optical Network
(GPON), Point-to-Point Active Ethernet and routed IP solution at the roadside. The merits of
each option were analysed, and the recommended solution that provides the best whole-life
value for money to the HA was implemented and trialled.

The requirements that the ‘All Fibre Solution’ will meet are:
 Provide fibre connectivity right to the SDP
 Support the Ethernet Based Services (e.g. MS3 / MS4 Message signs, MIDAS with IP
interfaces, CCTV, ERTs (Not a requirement on A14).

TECHNOLOGY
On England’s National Road Transmission Network copper cable is used to distribute data
and voice services from the node to the end device (i.e. the last mile). Fibre has always been
used to distribute video signals because of the broadcast quality signals required by the
operators.

Due to the age of installation of the copper cable, most of the faults on the network relate to
joints on the copper cables. Therefore, a decision was made to trial fibre-only technology on
the A14 all purpose trunk road. The two technologies considered were GPON and Active
Ethernet.

GPON is defined as ‘a point-to-multipoint access mechanism. Its main characteristic is the

use of passive splitters in the fiber distribution network, enabling one single feeding fiber
from the provider's central office to serve multiple homes and small businesses.
GPON has a downstream capacity of 2.488 Gbp/s and an upstream capacity of 1.244 Gbp/s
that is shared among users. Encryption is used to keep each user's data secured and private
from other users. Although there are other technologies that could provide fiber to the home,
passive optical networks (PONs) like GPON are generally considered the strongest candidate
for widespread deployments’. It is recommended as an ideal technology for ‘Fibre to the
Home (FTTH)’. GPON was developed with the support of the FSAN (Full Service Access
Network) Group and the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). Figure 1 shows the
architecture of the GPON solution.

Although GPON was considered a very strong candidate to deploy on the A14, the quantity
of services required at the roadside, did not make it cost-effective to implement on this trial
site. Moreover, due to access restrictions to the roadside for maintenance and repairs of
equipment, and the liquidated damages related to provision of services, resiliency of the
solution was essential. Therefore, ‘Active Ethernet’ was chosen as the technology of choice.

The active Ethernet was introduced in 2004 with the IEEE 802.3ah standard. This enabled a
standard Ethernet architecture to be used as an access technology for residential access.
Triple-play services (voice, video and data) became possible to be delivered over an Ethernet
architecture. The standard defined two different architectures to deliver Ethernet access;

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active Ethernet and Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). Figure 2 shows a topology of
the Active Ethernet Solution.

4
Figure 1 – GPON Solution

5
 High Resilience APTR solution (With
CWDM)
Typically 80km
20km
TS

TS T-CAB

7750SR
7750SR

1692MSE
1692MSE

Hardened Ethernet Switches

6850
6850
6850

High Resilience SDPs

Figure 2 – Active Ethernet Solution

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GIGABIT PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK (GPON)

GPON is a next generation access technology developed to offer high-speed Ethernet services
to residential users.

Since 2006 / 2007 PON deployments within Carrier / Operator networks have been rapidly
increasing to meet the growing demand of both business and residential users. As can be seen
from figure 3 below, a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 168% is forecast for
worldwide PON connections, growing to a massive 29 million connections by 2011. It is
anticipated GPON will dominate this growth accounting for 51% of all FTTH (Fibre to the
Home) deployments by 2011, becoming the PON technology of choice.

Figure 3: Projected worldwide GPON Deployments

Through such massive growth in both residential and business deployments, the cost of
GPON ONT (Optical Network Termination) equipment has significantly reduced, making
GPON suitable for a wider range of applications including transportation network
requirements (Betts, S).

A GPON network consists of three main elements:

 The OLT (Optical Line Termination). This is used to terminate either 1 or multiple
GPON’s at the GPON ‘Head End’ for hand off to networking equipment such as
Ethernet switches or IP routers.
 Passive Fibre Network. The passive fibre network is used to connect the OLT to the
ONT (Optical Network Termination). It consists of standard G.652 fibre and optical
combiner / splitters arranged in either a 1 or 2 tier hierarchy typically supporting up to
64 ONT increasing to 128 in the future.
 The ONT. This is used to terminate the GPON at the Service Delivery Points (SDP)
and present standard Ethernet interfaces such as 10/100BaseT to the end systems.

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 2 nd T ie r

1 :m O N T G P O N 1
O L T 1 ,4 9 0 n m
st
2 .5 G b it / s 1 T ie r

1 ,3 1 0 n m 1 :n
1 .2 G b it / s

G P O N 2

G P O N X

Figure 4: GPON Elements

To minimise fibre requirements each point-to-point fibre connection in a GPON network uses
only a single fibre (not a pair), and as such different optical wavelengths are used in the
upstream and downstream directions – 1310nm and 1490nm respectively.

In the downstream direction, up to 2.5 Gbit/s of bandwidth capacity is available, which is

shared between the connected ONTs within a single GPON and up to 1.25Gbit/s in the
upstream direction.

Due to the nature of the GPON, using a shared fibre media, a suitable MAC (Medium Access
Control layer) is required to ensure reliable and efficient transmission can be achieved. In the
downstream direction, this is quite simple, as the only device transmitting onto a particular
PON is the OLT, and as such Time Division multiplexing is used. Using this approach,
GPON frames transmitted by the OLT are received by all ONT on a particular GPON and
only the addressed (Port ID) ONT processes the received frame.

ETHERNET SERVICES
The alternative to GPON is to deploy an Active Ethernet point-to-point network solution. In
this architecture temperature hardened Ethernet switches are deployed at all SDP’s and
connected over fibre to the nearest T-Cab (Roadside Cabinet) or TS (Transmission Station-
Roadside Equipment Room) site using optical Ethernet interfaces. Each switch would require
either 1 or 2 fibres depending on whether standard or bi-directional (single fibre working)
optics are used.

The hardened switches at the SDP can be connected back to the nearest TS by daisy chaining
multiple switches together onto the same fibre (pair of fibres).

The ‘high’ resilience option would provide fibre connectivity from the SDP adjacent to the
end equipment back to two separate TS or transmission cabinets, over two unprotected fibre
links. From the TS / T-Cab, the service would also be protected within the NRTS core
network.

This is expected to be required only for a subset of critical services that require high
availability and for which the premium of providing the additional link is justified. Although
the optical reach of this service could be up to 80km it is recommended to limit the distance
between adjacent TS / T-Cabs to approximately 20km, so that the ‘All Fibre Solution’

8
connectivity is compatible with the ‘standard’ National road Telecommunications Service
(NRTS) topology.

TS / TS /
Fibre Fibre
T-Cab T-Cab

10/100BaseT
Service Delivery Point

Max 20km

Figure5: ‘High’ Resilience Ethernet Service

High Resilience Ethernet Service

Both GPON and Point-to Point active Ethernet systems are Layer 2 Ethernet solutions that
provide a flexible and cost effective way of providing fibre connectivity from the TS to the
end device. Both these solutions offer fibre connectivity to only one TS / T-Cab site. For
services requiring a high level of resilience, diverse connectivity from the SDP to both
adjacent TS / T-Cab sites is needed.

GeneSYS proposed to use the same hardened Ethernet switch proposed for the active
Ethernet solution to provide the high resilience service by providing optical connectivity to
both adjacent TS / T-Cabs, protecting the service from failures associated with fibre breaks or
equipment failure within either TS / T-Cab site. Layer 2 protection mechanisms such as
802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and link loss forwarding will be used to detect
and switch traffic in the event of a failure.

The 100Mbit optics is used to interconnect the OS6850 at the TS / T-Cabinet site with the
hardened Ethernet switches installed at the roadside. The maximum number of hardened
switches that can be connected together into a single chain, will depend on the types of
bandwidth required, latency and convergence restrictions. The proposed solution for high
resilience active Ethernet is based on the use of 100Mbit (SM15) optics.

Service Solutions for ‘An All Fibre Infrastructure’

Figure 6 and 7 show the equipment connectivity details for services provided on an ‘All Fibre
Infrastructure’ core network solution using GPON or Ethernet.

CCTV
For CCTV a network link is required both for the video and in the case of PTZ cameras, the
PTZ control. Two options exist for supporting CCTV over an all fibre infrastructure, namely
the existing NRTS consented CCTV solution, which utilises AMG equipment to multiplex
the video over fibre from the roadside to the nearest TS, and centralised Telindus Centauri
encoders. The alternative option is to deploy the Telindus Solo and to encode the video at the
base of the camera. The Ethernet PTZ port will be connected directly to the SDP equipment
this being either GPON or Active Ethernet.

For the purposes of comparison both solutions proposed for the A14 trial section, the Solo
solution is the most cost effective, and if combined with the high availability Active Ethernet
solution provides a more resilient solution than the existing consented CCTV solution.

9
CCTV service shows typical equipment connectivity
Ethernet SDP

Fibre
TS /
Ethernet
T-Cab
Telindus Solo MPEG2 Encoder

1V Peak-to-Peak
Ethernet PTZ Control

Figure: 6 CCTV Service

Emergency Roadside Telephones (ERTs)

Although ERTs on APTRs are currently serviced via either PSTN or GSM links, a solution
can be provided so that the connection back to the Regional Control Centre (RCC) can be
provided wholly over the NRTS network, this will provide improved management and
integration of services and long term cost savings.
Dependent on the solution chosen, some types of SDP equipment which have integrated
VOIP support and the standalone Analogue Telephone Adaptor (ATA) may be necessary.
Figure 4.7.4 ERT service shows typical equipment connectivity

Ethernet SDP
Fibre
TS /
T-Cab
Ethernet
Analogue Telephone
Adaptor (ATA)
2 Wire PSTN

Figure 7: ERT Service

CONSTRUCTION METHODS
The key challenge in the construction of the A14 trial section, is that the majority of the work
will be carried out under night-time lane 1 closures. The HA has a Public Service Agreement
to reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability for the travelling public. This
includes reducing the effect of planned maintenance and works on these target areas. To
achieve these targets the HA has imposed a ban on the use of lane closures between 06:00
and 20:00 unless it can be justified on safety or constructability issues. To install the ducts
and cabling with the required Traffic Management (TM), the works needed lane 1 to be
closed and therefore night working was utilised.

The market place and industry were investigated and three potential solutions for installing
longitudinal duct systems were identified.
Option 1: Conventional construction on the verge of roads using 4 no. 100mm ducts.

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 Option 2: Conventional construction on the verge using 110mm pre-sub ducted with 4
units.
Option 3: Slot cut in carriageway using 4 no. 35mm ducts.

Installation of the duct system for option 1 and 2 requires vegetation clearance of the verge.
This includes tree felling, uprooting bushes and hedges, and grubbing out stumps. This
clearance facilitates the laying of the ducting along the proposed route. This has an impact on
flora and fauna within the verge and specialist ecological surveys are required along the full
length of the trenching works to ensure that statutory protected species are not affected. The
main species likely to be effected is breeding birds and other species may be affected such as
bats or reptiles.

Option 3 requires some vegetation clearance of the verge in sections along the route but as it
was planned that the ducting should be installed in the road structure (middle of the road), the
clearance is greatly reduced when compared to option 1 and 2.

INSTALLATION AND TYPES OF CABLE

Three cabling techniques were also identified for cabling the longitudinal network. These are:

Option A: Standard NRTS 40 pair copper and 24 fibre cables

Option B: Standard full dielectric optic fibre cable

Option C: Blown fibre optic cable

COST COMPARISON
To enable analysis and decision to be taken on the preferred cable duct infrastructure and
cable types, detailed cost comparison were carried out based on the whole life costs on new
build, approximate maintenance, support, call off of services and Operational Support System
(OSS) costs

The Figures 8 to 11, show the different options rated as a percentage against the standard
NRTS solution (as installed on English motorways – SPC A) for phase 1 of the A14 build
and shown as whole life and call off costs.

Values over 100% are more expensive than the standard NRTS cost and less than 100% show
a saving. All costs are estimated over the whole life of the system.

The cost savings shown in table 1 only account for those savings realised by the use of a new
technologies, significant additional savings, not covered by this paper, were also realised by
use of new methods or installation (made possible by use of new types of ducts) and by being
able to space transmission nodes at greater intervals.

The figures 8 to 11 show the standard NRTS system as the most expensive, all other
technology and construction methods have been estimated against this.

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 Comparison of Highways Construction Costs

107.18%

4 no. 100mm ducts

100.00%

Slot cut 4 x 35mm duct

Pre-sub ducted with 4
Cost

units 110mm

90.03%
Slot cut 4 x 35mm duct
SPC A

4 units 110mm
Pre-sub ducted

Construction

Figure 8: Cable Ducts Construction Costs

Comparison of Highways Cable Costs

100.00%

40 Pair Copper & 24 Fibre

96F
Cost

SPC A

Blown Fibre

26.10% 25.13%
96 F

BF

Cable

Figure 9: Cable Cost

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 Comparison of Highways Technology Costs

100.00%

2.5G CWDM & DSL

79.87% 77.84%
GPON with CWDM
64.74% 66.06% 66.06%
Cost

GPON without CWDM

SPC A

Active Ethernet with CWDM

G/C

AE/C

AE/HR
AE
G

Active Ethernet without CWDM

Active Ethernet , High

Resilience
Technology

Figure 10: Technology Cost

Comparison of Highways Construction and Technology Costs

100.00%
4 no. 100mm ducts, 40 Pair Copper
& 24Fibre (2.5Gb CWDM & DSL)
77.34% 76.78%
4 units 110mm/96F/AE HR

4 units 110mm/BF/AE HR

Pre sub with 4 units 110mm & 96F

Cost

(Active Ethernet Variant High

SPC A

Resiliance)
Pre-sub ducted

Pre-sub ducted

Pre sub ducted with 4 units

110mm & Blown fibre (Active
Ethernet Variant High Resiliance)

Options

Figure 11: Combined Cable Ducts and Technology Cost.

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ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY
Following analysis of the construction options, it was recommended that the duct installation
option 2: Conventional construction on the verge of the road using 110mm pre-sub
ducted with 4 units, as the preferred choice. This option was preferred because it negates
the need to pull in sub ducts following completion of the duct construction therefore saving
Trafiic Management (TM) costs and additional roadside activity. The pre installed sub-duct
unit also gives the additional ability of increasing the distance between chambers in ‘out-of-
scheme’ area, therefore reducing the quantity of chambers and reduced build costs. No
specialist equipment or skills are required and the whole life cost is the same or lower than
the alternative options.

The principal factor between the options with regard to cable type and technology is
maintenance.

Both the Dielectric Fibre Optic and Blown Fibre cable types are relatively easy to repair, the
blown fibre having a slight advantage in that only short sections of tube bundle would require
replacing in the case of a cable cut if the present practice of joint to joint replacement is still
maintained. Only the required amount of fibres would then be blown in therefore reducing
the amount of splicing to restore service.

The study indicated that the total cost of implementation for the blown fibre was the lowest.
However, after the trial, the team opted for the Dielectric Fibre Cable, due to the skill base of
the existing Maintenance team.

The merits and de-merits of the technology options are summarised below in Table 2.

GPON Active Ethernet

Merits De Merits Merits De Merits
Supports Voice Higher Maintenance Lower Maintenance Does Not Support
Services costs costs Voice Services
Suited for high Possible High OSS Suited for lower density Does not support
density of SDP's costs of SDP's remote line tests
Efficient use of Not Resilient during Possible Low OSS costs Loss of local service
fibre cable cut or damage in the case of AC
power loss
UPS equipment Does not support Efficient use of fibre
support at 600 remote line tests
cabinet
Circuit resilient in the
case of cable cut or
damage
Table 1: Technology Option Benefits

Given the factors described above it was concluded that the two technologies are suitable for
deployment on the NRTS Network but given all factors the recommendation is that Active
Ethernet should be deployed as the solution for the NRTS Network. The mitigating factor

14
that supports this decision is the reduced risk in loss of service due to resilient/re route ability
of the network in the case of cable cut/damage.

This solution was trialled and implemented successfully on the A14 ‘All Purpose Trunk
Road’, with all benefits detailed above validated and it is providing enhanced services from
the roadside to the Highways Agency Regional Control Centre. It is expected to be more
reliable than the existing motorway network which uses copper cable for local access. It
should form the standard infrastructure for the provision of services for other ‘All Purpose
Trunk Roads’ in England which have similar requirements to support high levels of roadside
technology, as was the case on the A14 . It may also be considered in the future for motorway
applications to remove the need for copper based services.

References

Betts, S “14 Consultancy Report”, NRTS Project Report, 2009

www.alcatel-lucent.com,

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