[LINK] NBN layer 3 services

[Glen Turner]

On Sat, 2009-12-12 at 19:44 +1000, Richard Chirgwin wrote:
> Returning to MPLS, I can't consider it an immature technology.

Yep, a quick look in my presentations archive shows a 2001
presentation where I described how I was using MPLS in AARNet
to load-balance international capacity in a way superior to
SDH protection. So I imagine I deployed MPLS in 2000.

What is still immature is inter-AS exchange of MPLS routing,
so you'd want to constrain the MPLS cloud to just the NBN
and not extend it out into the ISPs.



Anyway, my view is somewhat different to both the NBN and
Cisco.  I'd like to see the interface between NBN and upstream
defined as a tunnel to a IPv6 endpoint on the customer's
set-top box.

Technically, this is to avoid the MPLS/VLAN GPON/ADSL question
altogether. Surely the view from the user end and the view
from the upstream end shouldn't include such detailed knowledge
of the middle. These details will change over time, and
constraining the NBN to the technology of 2009 doesn't
seem too clever.

But more importantly is the policy issue. At one extreme,
a GPON interconnect means that only telcos in a position
to make a large up-front investment can be upstreams to
the NBN. This will restrict competition, as there are only
a few telcos with the capital, and it will inhibit
innovation, as no one will take a punt on a high up-front
capital to test and develop an idea.  Practically, you
won't see cheap services (even established services such
as pay TV) with this model.

I'd like to see a small operator with a good idea be able
to link into the NBN at a few points and be able to run
applications between the settop box and their servers.
As a small example, setting up an Australian chapter of
the US PBS would be well within the capabilities of a
small not-for-profit group. Or, more technically, a
niche telco offering a modified settop box with 3G
picocells.

Note that offering a IPv6 addressed connection between
the upstreams and downstreams doesn't mean the traffic
is actually routed at every step in the network. I
don't imagine the added cost would be great, but it
does result in a more competitive market for NBN-delivered
services.

-- 
 Glen Turner
 www.gdt.id.au/~gdt