FAQ on Access Networks and Radio Access Networks (RAN)
By Zahid Ghadialy (zahidtg@yahoo.com)
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What is the difference between Access Network
(AN) and Radio Access Network (RAN)?
Access Networks are network that
connects directly to the end user or customer. Access networks connect to the
"backbone," which is a network made up of high-speed lines between
major switching points. The switching points could be buildings on a campus
or cities in a country.
There are different types of
access networks. For example there is Copper Access Network, Optical Access
Network, or carrier-pigeon access network ;). Radio network is one kind of
access network. Within radio access network you might define further types:
cellular, fixed wireless, private mobile, etc
It’s best to think of access
networks in a couple of ways.
Wireline access network meaning
the copper or fibre that goes from a building to a point of presence (POP).
You have a piece of copper access network in your home for your phone
line/broadband connection. It goes from your home to the POP. At the POP it
connects to a phone switch and an Internet switch, which then put you into
the core network.
A radio network, meaning a network
of devices that move a radio signal to the access network then to the core
network.. In the case of a mobile device, the radio signal goes from a base
station to a base station that connects to the access network. Easy example
When you make a call to your home via your mobile; the call goes to a
radio/wireless base station that is connected to the access network via
copper or fibre that goes to the POP.
Wireline carriers own access
networks and radio networks. Wireless carriers own radio networks and
purchase access networks from wireline providers. Access networks are also
referred as the last-mile.
The core network is owned by a
wireline provider. It usually refers to the part of the network that moves
data, though that is not always the case these days. It the network that
moves packets from POP to POP.
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