chorus product consultation paper product roadmap v1

Product Consultation Paper - Product Roadmap

February 2019 Chorus Confidential

© Copyright Chorus 2019

Chorus Product

Consultation Paper

Product Roadmap V1

The purpose of this document is to solicit ideas, feedback and recommended priorities for Chorus products going forward.

Publication Date: 27 February 2019

Document Number: 1.0




Document Control Document Authorities

Document Details Name Title

Document Owner Peter Coleman Lead Product Development Manager

Author(s) Peter Coleman Lead Product Development Manager

Contributor Matt Harris Jana Kodali

Lead Product Manager

Product Manager

Content Stakeholder Martin Sharrock

Richard Cowsill

Head of Network Technology

Head of Business Technology

Legal Review Carl Allwood Assistant General Council

Approval to publish Date Name Approval By

Approver Ed Hyde, Chief Customer Officer

Version History This table shows a record of significant changes to the document.

Version Date Author Description

0.1 08.10.2018 Peter Coleman Initial draft

0.2 17.01.2019 Peter Coleman Updated version

0.3 5.02.2019 Peter Coleman Updated following internal feedback

1.0 27.02.2019 Peter Coleman Release version

Document Review

This document will be subject to periodic review. It is the responsibility of the Document Owner to initiate and control the review process.

The next update will include feedback from the consultation process

Copyright

Copyright © 2019 Chorus New Zealand Ltd

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of Chorus New Zealand Limited.

This document is the property of Chorus New Zealand Limited and may not be copied without consent.




Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 4

1.1. OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ........................................................................................... 4 1.2. INTENDED AUDIENCE ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 4 1.4. EXCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.5. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DOCUMENTS ........................................................................................................ 5

2. CHORUS LAYER 2 FIBRE PRODUCTS .................................................................................................... 6 2.1. CHORUS’ FIBRE ROLLOUT STATUS .............................................................................................................. 6 2.2. CURRENT UFB LAYER 2 PRODUCT SUITE ...................................................................................................... 6 2.3. LAYER 2 AND RELATED PRODUCTS FOR 2020+ .............................................................................................. 7 2.4. THE CHORUS PRODUCT ROADMAP .............................................................................................................. 7

3. CHORUS LAYER 2 FIBRE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP ................................................................. 8 3.1. OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2. LAYER 2 ROADMAP IDEAS ....................................................................................................................... 8

3.2.1. Top ideas .................................................................................................................................. 10 3.2.2. Next tranche ............................................................................................................................. 12 3.2.3. Other ideas ............................................................................................................................... 14

3.3. LAYER 2 PRODUCTS AND SUPPORT SYSTEM DOMAINS ..................................................................................... 20 4. THE CHORUS PRODUCT SUITE AND LAYER 2 UNBUNDLING ................................................................. 22

4.1. NETWORK SLICING.............................................................................................................................. 22 4.2. SDN AND NFV .................................................................................................................................. 22

4.2.1. Software Defined Networking ...................................................................................................... 23 4.2.2. Network Functional Virtualisation (NFV) ........................................................................................ 23

4.3. LAYER 2 UNBUNDLING BUSINESS MODEL .................................................................................................... 24 4.4. INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................... 24 4.5. INTEGRATION BETWEEN NETWORK AND OSS .............................................................................................. 25 4.6. RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 26

APPENDIX A CONSULTATION APPROACH ................................................................................................... 27 APPENDIX B CHORUS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................... 28

B.1 ONBOARDING PROCESS FOR NEW PRODUCTS OR FEATURES .............................................................................. 28 B.2 CHORUS CO-INNOVATION ENVIRONMENTS.................................................................................................. 28 B.3 NGA ‘PICK AND MIX’ PRODUCT MODEL ...................................................................................................... 29

Table of Figures Figure 1. Layer 2 Product domains ....................................................................................................... 21 Figure 2. Network slicing ..................................................................................................................... 22 Figure 3. SDN generic architecture ....................................................................................................... 23 Figure 4. Layer 2 unbundling product suite ............................................................................................ 24 Figure 5. APIs as an abstraction layer ................................................................................................... 26 Figure 6. Chorus Onboarding process ................................................................................................... 28 Figure 7. Chorus UFB Change Process ................................................................................................... 28 Figure 8. Custom NGA Offers using common building blocks .................................................................... 29




1. Introduction

This paper looks at planned and potential Chorus product enhancements. It forms part

of a consultation program to gather ideas and help prioritise a suite of product options

for the future.

1.1. Objectives of this consultation document

The objective of this Consultation Document is to:

Suggest ideas for enhancements to current and future Chorus products.

To solicit feedback on possible ideas, features and business priorities to support

the creation of a development pipeline and roadmap.

1.2. Intended audience

Service Providers and key stakeholders of Chorus.

1.3. Executive summary

The original UFB Agreement (NIPA) required Chorus to offer a number of specified

wholesale bitstream services. Subsequent to this, Chorus has introduced a number of

additional features and services that extended this initial product suite.

We expect the demand for new features and product enhancements to continue to

accelerate, especially as fibre broadband becomes more and more embedded in

Customer’s day-to-day business and personal activities.

Section 2 of this paper looks at the current and future state of the Chorus fibre products

and provides the context for the suggested product enhancements.

Section 3 of this paper suggests a number of features or services that would enhance

the Chorus Bitstream product suite, for feedback and prioritisation by the industry.

Section 4 of this paper looks at the outcome and recommendations from our

investigation into the current and potential state of Layer 2 unbundling.

The Appendices includes additional information about Chorus product development.

This is expected to be a living document, with the contents of this paper changing as a

result of consultation, and during delivery of the roadmap.

1.4. Exclusions

This paper is primarily focused on Chorus Layer 2 and related products and supporting

infrastructure. It excludes:

Layer 1 services, such as PONFAS (point to multipoint fibre) and Direct Fibre

Access (Point to Point fibre);

Customer Experience and Fibre Order Process enhancements, which are part of

a separate workstream and consultation process;

Operational enhancements, to improve workflows or operations, which may

have customer facing impacts;

Implementation of machine learning to understand our NGA order data to

understand improve reschedules and cancellations.

Promotions or price changes;

Product Pricing




1.5. Relationship to other documents

This document should be read in conjunction with the following consultation documents,

available on our consultation website here:

Chorus Technical Document Layer 1 Unbundling January 2019;

Chorus PONFAS Product Construct consultation paper V2 November 2018

Chorus Product Consultation – WiFi and RGB V1 January 2019.

https://sp.chorus.co.nz/news/fibre-product-consultation-post-2020




2. Chorus Fibre Products

We are living in an era of rapid social and economic change, where the scope, scale and

complexity of issues facing people and businesses require increasingly complex

solutions and technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, data lakes and analytics.

Telecommunications is the engine facilitating and supporting these solutions by

seamlessly interconnecting individuals, businesses, systems and clouds.

Chorus is continuing to expand and improve our fibre network to help New Zealand

grow economically and socially. We want to work with you to create a product roadmap

that will meet your current and future customer’s needs.

2.1. Chorus’ fibre rollout status

Chorus UFB 1 fibre rollout is completing at the end of 2020. UFB 2 and Greenfield

expansions will further expand fibre coverage.

Currently 48% of houses and businesses who can get fibre have taken it up, with some

areas as high as 85%. Take-up is expected to continue to increase over the next few

years, and some areas may become fibre only.

This high fibre penetration rate means that New Zealand has a high fibre population

base with diverse business and personal needs that will require an increasingly diverse

range of applications and services to address these needs.

2.2. Current UFB Layer 2 product suite

Chorus released the initial suite of fibre offers into the market in 2011 based on industry

standards and the UIFB NIPA contract.

Subsequent to this, Chorus has worked with and led the industry to develop and release

a number of additional features and services that extend the initial product suite,

including:

Adding Low Traffic Class to Bitstream 3, creating the Bitstream 3a;

Accelerate enhancements, including overclocking Low Traffic Class and tweaking

QoS technical parameters;

Introducing offers that were higher speed than envisaged in the original product

suite, including 200 Mbps and 1 Gbps offers;

Operational flexibility enhancements, such as allowing Service Providers to

select and change handover and handover VLANs per service instance

The Dunedin Gigatown initiative;

Introduction of an SFP ONT for Smart Locations and Data Centres;

Introduction of an API Digital Gateway;

Introduction of our Check Mate assure tool and corresponding API;

New Service Availability and Address APIs;

Regional Tail Extension, reducing the barriers for Service Providers to enter a

coverage area, particular the more remote areas;

Supporting up to four OVCs on a single UNI;

Multicast solutions;

Numerous private offers, which allow Service Providers to design their own

service using common (non-discriminatory) building blocks (see §B.3);

Introduction of our congestion free network policy;

Numerous whitepapers and technical documents to support consumption of fibre

services;




2.3. Products for 2020+

Customers and Service Providers have identified a range of product characteristics that

the industry will need going forward:

Flexible products that allow Service Providers to create differentiated solutions

without being non-discriminatory;

New features and technology that allows Service Providers to introduce exciting

and cool stuff without incurring risky high upfront investment costs;

Features and capabilities that make fibre products easier to consume - “as easy

to consume as if the Chorus network was part of their network”;

Tools and features that support great customer experience, to keep customers

happy and engaged;

Solutions that reduce Service Provider’s operate costs and improve cash flow;

Flexibility of features and attributes so Service Providers can customise service

instances for individual customers – no one size fits all;

Visibility and control of what’s going on to ensure the Service Provider has no

surprises and can answer Customer’s queries quickly and efficiently.

2.4. The Chorus product roadmap

The Chorus fibre product suite is moving away from an initial range of simple offers

towards a more mature product suite that will enable Service Providers to create a wide

range of complex solutions.

This document suggests a number of potential products and enhancements based on

discussions with a number of different sources:

We expect these ideas to change over time, and the purpose of this consultation is both

to validate and update the current list, and to help us prioritise delivery in the short to

medium term.

Following this consultation, Chorus will publish a roadmap that we will:

Update quarterly to reflect delivery milestones;

Reset annually to align with any changes in industry needs.

Startup2011

100Mbps2015

Gigabit2017

Post UFB 12020

2023+

We are here




3. Chorus Fibre Product development roadmap

This section suggests a number of features or services that would enhance the Chorus

Layer 2 and related products. We seek feedback and prioritisation with the industry for

inclusion on the Chorus post-2020 product roadmap.

We welcome additional ideas, as well as feedback on the current list.

3.1. Overview

Chorus offer a wide range of fibre products that provide or support connectivity between

an End Customer and a Service or Content Provider. These products have been, and

are expected to continue to be, enhanced over time to address changing market needs:

New revenue opportunities for both Service Providers and Chorus to support

growing the broadband market;

Performance, to meet ever-growing End Customer demand for faster and better

broadband services;

Customer experience enhancements, to keep End Customers engaged and

happy with their broadband experience and thus reduce churn;

Flexibility, to enable Service Providers to differentiate their services to suit their

customers’ needs;

Operate improvements, to make it easier for Service Providers to order and

manage Chorus services.

3.2. Product roadmap ideas

This section contains a list of current ideas, divided as follows:

Top ideas. New products or enhancements that we have had the most requests

for, or best match industry trends. Most of these are proceeding, or likely to

proceed over the next 18 months, but may be prioritised based on feedback.

Next tranche. Additional products and enhancements that some Customers

have expressed an interest in, or would naturally follow the top ideas.

Other. These ideas are a mixture of hygiene, opportunities or blue-sky ideas,

where we would like to understanding demand or interest.

Some items are prerequisites for other ideas and are thus likely to proceed, but

some are purely speculative.

Many of these concepts have limited assessment of their cost and complexity. A few

may address similar business needs but in different ways, e.g. Bandwidth on Demand

vs More Bandwidth options.

There may be regulatory or contractual limitations that may limit or constrain some of

these ideas, such as Layer 3 business line restrictions. These have been included so as

to not limit the conversations. All ideas would have to align with Chorus’ wholesale

position, i.e. the delivery of services from an End Customer to a Retail or Content

Service Provider.

These ideas are categorised as follows:

Status Description

WIP This is a work in progress initiative, i.e. is either currently in progress,

or about to commence, subject to resource constraints.

Planned These are initiatives planned to commence in the next six months,

subject to resource constraints.

Pipeline These are ideas where some demand has been identified, or where it

is an opportunity driven by other related opportunities.




Status Description

Idea These ideas are more speculative and would only proceed if there is

identified demand, but they demonstrate potential opportunities that

fibre offers.

Category Description

Enhance New or modified features to current products to add value or ensure

they are fit for purpose.

Experience Improvements to end customer experience.

Flexibility Provides Service Providers with more control over the product

features and attributes.

This allows us to offer non-discriminatory functionality to all Service

Providers, while still allowing each Service Providers to create

differentiated services in the market.

Innovate New products that create new revenue opportunities that may not

exist today.

Operate Features or attributes that make it easier to either integrate Chorus

and Service Provider systems and operations, or make Chorus

products easier to consume.

SLAs Increases service diversity or reliability.

Complexity* Description

Low 1-6 months development

Medium 6-12 months development

Large 6-18+ months development

* Based on ‘finger in the air’ assessments and subject to availability of resource and development environments, which may be shared with other initiatives, depending on priority.




3.2.1. Top ideas

These are possible products or enhancements that we have had the most requests for, or best match industry trends:

Idea Description Segment Status Domain Category Service Provider benefits

Customer benefits Complexity

1 10GPON High Speed Broadband offers Consumer Business

WIP – Trial Planned Q1 2019

Access Innovate Can offer very high speed broadband service for technology early adopters or bandwidth-hungry customers

Customers can burst to extremely fast speeds when they need to.

Large

2 National NGA Tail Extension

Allow Service Providers to map any NGA service in the country to a UFB Handover in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin.

Consumer Business

WIP – Initiate Planned Q3 2019

Aggregation Enhance Low barrier of entry to UFB services Flexibility in network grooming for demand

swings

More choice/service options Medium

3 Open Access Gateway

Activate the 3rd Generation ONT’s Open Access Gateway function and provide Service Providers with remote management access to configure and manage it as an RGW. This is a dependency for Home WiFi

Consumer Business

Planned Home Innovate Reduces capex and opex by removing the two-device model.

Simpler installation with less points of failure or integration issues

Large

4 LAN as a service Extend high speed fibre connectivity directly to individual CPE. Creates very flexible LAN and WANs without the need for local active infrastructure and associated support.

Business Pipeline Access Fulfil

Innovate Reduced infrastructure costs. Creates the ability to create highly flexible cloud-based local and wide area network solutions that can be reconfigured to meet fluctuating business demand

Future-proof fibre connection with lower maintenance/support costs than traditional LAN solutions. Allows seamless integration between local and remote users, supporting more business’s growing need for flexibility.

Large

5 Flexible broadband

Allows a customer to activate their broadband, via a Service Provider activation website, for X days Broadband at a time. Useful in batches and holiday areas.

Consumer Idea Digital Access

Flexibility Partner with Chorus to offer flexible internet services for transient customers

Customers don’t have to pay for broadband all year around when they only need it for short periods, such as holiday homes.

Large






6 Small business fibre

Provide an assure wrapper that can be applied to entry level Business fibre services.

Business WIP – Discovery Planned Q2 2019

Fulfil Assure Access Aggregation

Experience Provides for more flexible choices while still providing business-level assure service levels

Allows customers to get a service that meets their operational requirements without having to buy a premium service that may be over-engineered for their needs.

Medium

7a 10G Bitstream 4 10Gbps access for Bitstream 4, supporting up to 10 Gbps High or Low bandwidth

Business WIP – initiate Planned Q2 2019

Access Aggregation

Enhance Ability to offer fast high quality business service

High speed, high performing WAN connections that meet current and future needs

Small

7b Glass only Bitstream 4

Glass only access for Bitstream 4, i.e. no active electronics at customer premises

Business WIP – initiate Planned Q2 2019

Access Enhance Ability to offer high quality business services in locations with limited space and power, such as Smart Locations or Datacentres

Customers can access high quality business services in Data Centres. Customers can deploy solutions that require fast high-quality multi-vlan broadband into Smart Locations

Small

8 Backhaul Improvements

Update Chorus backhaul services to provide intra and inter regional backhaul to support Service Providers consuming Chorus Access products

Networks WIP – Discovery Planned Q3 2019

Backhaul Flexibility Economical and fit-for-purpose infrastructure to adapt to their business needs

Customers get the right level of performance that expands as their bandwidth demand increases.

Medium

9 Mobile Front-haul

An optimised fibre backhaul service for 5G access points

Networks Planned Access Innovate Cost effective backhaul for 5G networks

Wider 5G coverage to complement fibre.

Large




3.2.2. Next tranche

These are additional products and enhancements that some Customers have expressed an interest in, or would naturally follow the top

ideas.



10 WiFi Remote Access

Distributed WiFi subscriber service allows multiple Service Providers to offer a WiFi service over a shared WiFi access with 802.1x authorisation

Business Planned Home Access

Innovate Provide secure access from any Chorus WiFi access to cloud infrastructure. Extend WAN solutions to employee homes

Provides managed access to a Service Provider via any Chorus WiFi service. E/g/ Employees working from home can get secure remote access to their work environment from multiple locations.

Medium

11 Real time activation

Allow end customer to select a service provider on a website where there is already a fibre intact connection and get connected quickly in minutes, rather than hours

Consumer Planned Digital Access Aggregation Fulfil

Experience Makes it easier to acquire customers when they move into a premises that has previously had fibre

installed

Make it easy to get broadband if they are moving into a premises has previously had fibre installed.

Large

12 Near real time changes

Service Requests for intact and active connections, including modify attributes, are applied in seconds rather than hours

Consumer Business

Planned Fulfil Experience Changes can be implemented while talking to customers, or direct from website

Customers can have their service activated quickly. Customers can have their service changed quickly.

Small

13 Bandwidth on Demand

Ability to dynamically change service bandwidth in near-real-time using API calls with no service disruption

Consumer’ Business

Planned Digital Access Aggregation

Flexibility They can choose bandwidth they want to offer, rather than one size fits all

Customers get the bandwidth they normally require, but can boost it higher if they need to, without disrupting their experience.

Large

14 Business ONT(s)

Business ONTs with different numbers of ports and business features, such as Power over Ethernet UNIs.


Innovate The ability to offer differentiated services to business customers, including Data Centres and Smart Locations

More choice and solutions tailored to meet their business needs

Medium

15 More Bandwidth options

More speed options for Bitstream 2/3/3a

Consumer Business

Pipeline Access Aggregation Fulfil

Enhance Can differentiate offers by speed

Customers get the right bandwidth they need and do not pay for bandwidth they don’t need

Small






16 WPON A wireless technology using unlicensed 60GHz spectrum to provide an up to 3 Gbps access to a premises where a fibre lead-in isn’t available.

Consumer Business

Pipeline Access Flexibility Has the potential to solve the challenge of connecting customers in Smart Locations, multi dwelling units, right of way and business parks more easily

Customers can get Gbps broadband faster and easier, particularly if there are legal or technical barriers for fibre.

High

17 Fibre premium installation

Request a Fibre installation outside of standard hours. Customers will be able to choose when they need to be home to get connected to Fibre

Consumer Planned Access Experience Reduce the barrier for Customers to get fibre installations

Customers can get fibre installed when it is convenient for them, with less disruption to their normal activities.

Low




3.2.3. Other ideas

This is a mixture of hygiene, opportunities or blue-sky ideas, where we would like to understanding demand or interest.

Some items are prerequisites for other ideas and are thus likely to proceed, but some are purely speculative.



18 Multiple Primary Offers on ONT

Remove constraint on multiple primary offers on same ONT

Consumer Business

WIP – delayed due to work on 3rd Gen ONT Planned Q3 2019

Fulfil Experience Allows new service to be stood up and tested before old service is removed. Can retain multiple services where needed. Simplifies network configuration by

reusing existing BNG configurations.

Much better experience and service continuity when upgrading service or changing service provider. Avoids unnecessary ONT installations or service interruptions

Medium

19 Handover diversity

Use MC-LAG to allow handovers to be split across exchanges

Networks WIP – On hold due to Rugby World Cup activity

Aggregation SLAs Service continuity during upgrades, brand protection for failure scenarios

More reliable service with less risk of outages.

Medium

20 Home WiFi Provide a reliable high-performing home WiFi solution. Includes mesh-WiFi and analytics-based assure tools. Is dependent on having the Open Access Gateway function (above)

Consumer Planned Home Innovate Reduces complexity in managing Home WiFi solutions

Customer experience is not constrained by poor WiFi.

Large

21 Layer 2 WiFi A bridged WiFi access. All Layer 3 functions are managed within the Service Provider domain


Innovate Provide secure access from a specific WiFi ONT to cloud infrastructure. Extend WAN solutions to employee homes

Employees can get remote access to the Service Provider on a WiFi device.

Medium

22 Power over Ethernet

Utilise ONTs capable of providing Power over Ethernet, primarily for supporting WiFi Access Points for business

Business Planned Home Innovate Simplifies premises wiring for business WiFi Access Points for business customers by avoiding separate power

Improved Business WiFi Medium

23 Remote Management Gateway

An API gateway that provides Service Provides with visibility and control of their services on the ONT, such as Open Access Gateway or ATA Voice.

Consumer Business

Planned Home Innovate The ability to configure services and features directly on ONT, and to see what is happening

Better and more flexible services from Service Provider, with informed conversations

Large






24 API: Get ONT An API that provides a list of ONTs installed in a premises, similar to feasibility

Consumer Business

Planned Digital Inventory

Operate Provides a simple way to get information on what ONTs are installed at a premises

Better (informed) customer experience in multiple scenarios

Medium

25 API: Get ONT Details

An API that provides a list of used and unused (capacity) features associated with a specified ONT

Consumer Business

Planned Digital Inventory

Operate Provides a simple way to get information on what services are installed on an ONT, and any spare capacity. Allows Service Provider to set the right customer expectations during selling process

Customer is informed as to whether a new service or feature requires a truck roll or not, prior to ordering

Medium

26 Request: Replace ONT

Allows Service Provider to request a new ONT of a specific type, so they can then offer a particular service or feature. This could be triggered by ordering a feature that requires a new ONT, or on its own in anticipation of a new service.

Consumer Business

Planned Home Access

Operate The ability to get the right ONT with the right features for the service they intend to sell

Customers can get access to ONT-based services and features not available on their currently installed ONT.

Large

27 Hot-swap ONTs Allow ONTs to be replaced dynamically by certified technicians

Consumer Business

Planned Digital Fulfil Inventory

SLAs Make it easy and fast to fix problems for ONT failures, or to change ONTs if new features are required

The ability to quickly replace faulty ONTs, e.g. in Smart Locations or data centres with restricted access. The ability to get access to new features that may require a different type of ONT.

Medium

28 Speed Story Web, video and written collateral and supporting information to guide Customer conversations around speed

Consumer Pipeline - Experience Allows them to manage end user expectations and discourage churn

Customers have the right expectations and can make informed choices about speed

Small

29 Service utilisation reporting

Provide per-service capacity utilisation reports to identify when customers traffic starts to reach OVC capacity

Business Pipeline Access Aggregation Data

Experience Upsell opportunity. Proactively identify when customers need to upgrade their bandwidth before their service starts to congest

Uncongested broadband experience.

Medium






30 Handover utilisation reporting

Provide handover utilisation reports that predict when handovers will congest, based on our congestion free network policy

Networks Pipeline Aggregation Data

Experience Ensures customer experience isn’t accidentally degraded due to handover congestion

Congestion free broadband experience

Small

31 Finance options for high cost installs

The ability to pay a higher cost install over time

Business Pipeline Billing Experience Reduces the barrier of entry for customers to get broadband by spreading the cost

Makes it easier to get broadband where significant work is required to connect fibre to the premises

Small

32 Rich information based on QR code

Customers can access rich technical information on their ONT by scanning the QR code. Information would include static information,

service inventory and diagnostic information based on Check Mate

Consumer Pipeline Digital Assure Inventory Data

Experience Keeps customers or on-premises technical personnel well-informed about the

ONT and installed services

Customers can see useful live and static information about their ONT and installed services

Medium

33 VLAN transparency as feature

Allow an offer to switch between single VLAN and VLAN transparent (BS2/BS3) as a modify attributes request.

Business Pipeline Fulfil Access

Flexibility Simplified offers with flexible service options, providing more control and flexibility over feature set

Customers get the service that best meet their needs at the right price.

Large

34 Multiple OVCs Provide multiple Access-EVPLs OVCs (single VLAN OVC) on a UNI, each of which can be delivered to separate handovers One example is for Business services to separate management, voice, internet and intranet traffic. It could also be used for logical diversity, to protect against handover failure.

Business Pipeline Fulfil Access Aggregation

Flexibility Allows economical tailored WAN solutions, e.g. separating management, internal, voice and internet traffic, each with their own QoS solution and delivered to the appropriate application.

Supports tailored WAN solutions that are fit for purpose

Medium

35 Ethernet Peering

Specialised Ethernet backhaul service that supports Content and Retail Service Providers to exchange

content privately or publicly with local or remote Content/Service Providers

Networks Pipeline Aggregation Backhaul

Innovate Reduces backhaul costs by sharing content close to

BNGs, leveraging unused UFB Handover Connection upstream bandwidth

Customer gets high-speed low-latency access to high quality video and other

content

Large

36 Business WiFi Provides business-level access point plus management system to allow Corporate WiFi to be remotely managed

Business Pipeline Home Innovate Provides a solution for SMEs/businesses with built-in security and operations

Supports high quality and secure corporate WiFi

Large






37 Fast Connect The ability to request a connection lead-in to be done immediately, similar to Critical Response (subject to consent rules)

Consumer Business

Pipeline Access Operate The ability to order connections that need to be connected urgently

Fast connection for customers that really need it

Medium

38 Event driven notifications

Push notifications of network events, including impacted services

Consumer Business Networks

Pipeline Assure Operate Understand customer-affecting issues before the customer reports them, so no surprises

Customer is fully informed of the problem and its status, providing a better experience

Large

39 Flexible Big Fat Dumb Pipe

Use TR-156 aggregated ePipes between OLT and Handover, similar to UBA. Use flexible cross-connect in OLT to retain per-User mapping (one

aggregated ePipe per OLT per handover)

Consumer Business

Pipeline Fulfil Access Aggregation

Operate Very fast bulk map customers between handovers Simplified BNG configurations

Flexible customer mapping to handovers

Congestion free broadband experience.

Large

40 Rich ONT Location information

Provide detailed information regarding ONT location within a premises

Business Pipeline Inventory Operate Supports fast restore times and improved ordering, particular for premises with special access requirements

Improved reliable service with fast fault restoration times.

Medium

41 API: Service Verification test

Compare what the network has provisioned, which could then be compared with product/service inventory.

Business Pipeline Inventory Access Aggregation

Operate Supports reconciliation between what has been ordered, what has been provisioning and what has been billed

Customer gets what they have requested and are paying for

Medium

42 API: Handover Services

Provide a list of active and assigned services associated with handover, including VLAN assignment

Networks Pipeline Inventory Data

Operate The ability to reconcile services to handovers quickly and efficiently. Supports handover optimisation

Optimised broadband experience

Small

43 PON Diverse access

Use GPON Type-B diversity to provide redundant access to businesses

Business Pipeline Access SLAs Can offer increased reliability to business customers

More reliable service with less risk of outages

Large

44 Diversity standard

Collateral and supporting information to guide Customer conversations around network and access diversity within the Chorus network

Business Networks

Pipeline Access Aggregation

SLAs Provide clear information on Chorus’ access and network diversity and how this can be leveraged to provide high-resilient telecommunication services

Customers can get the right level of diversity that suits their business needs.

Small






45 SLAs: Provisioning

Improvements to provisioning SLAs, including possible multiple options, based on consultation

Business Pipeline Access SLAs Adaptable and differentiated provisioning service levels that match market propositions

Provisioning service levels that meet market needs

Medium

46 SLAs: Assure Improvements to Assure SLAs, including possible multiple options, based on consultation

Business Pipeline Assure SLAs Adaptable and differentiated assure service levels that match market propositions

Assure service levels that meet market needs

Medium

47 G.fast Fibre to boundary but use existing copper lead-in for delivery of fibre services

Consumer Idea Access Experience Alternative installation where fibre is outside premises but cannot be installed due to

cost, consent or other reason

Allows non-intrusive installations in situations where fibre installation into the premises is difficult

Large

48 Commissioning Test

As part of commissioning a service or service change, test what service has been provisioned end to end, in a form that can be saved as a birth certification

Consumer Business

Idea Fulfil Access Aggregation

Experience Provide confidence that service request has been correctly delivered and is working

Customer gets what they have requested and it works

Large

49 Service Provider-defined profiles

Service Providers can design their own network profiles using YANG.

Consumer Business

Idea Access Aggregation Fulfil

Flexibility Able to differentiate broadband services and avoid ‘one size fits all’

More choice and options. Large

50 CDN A Chorus CDN for delivering Video and other content to End Customers or Service Provider BNGs


Idea Access Aggregation

Innovate Take advantage of asymmetric traffic patterns to get content through existing handovers Reduce backhaul costs by offloading content to CDN

Customer gets high-speed low-latency access to high quality video and other content

Large

51 CDN Injection Integrate CDN directly with Service Provider access, i.e. downstream from BNG

Consumer Idea Access Aggregation

Innovate Reduce backhaul costs by offloading content to CDN

Customer gets high-speed low-latency access to high quality video and other content

Large

52 Use copper to power ONT

Use old copper access to provide power to ONT for service continuity in power cuts

Business Idea Access Innovate Can offer service continuity as a service May be suitable for some Smart Locations where power is difficult to provide

Service continuity in the event of power failures

Large






53 Wavelength unbundling

Operate multiple optical wavelengths along PON, similar to GPON/10GPON, where Chorus operates some wavelengths and RSP operates others.

Business Networks

Idea Access Innovate The ability to offer differentiated services to customers and Smart Locations with minimal investment in access infrastructure

More choice and better services

Large

54 Speed boost weekend

Boost speed for a weekend or designated period

Consumer Idea Digital Access Fulfil

Innovate Encourage upsell through speed promotions

Customers can try out higher speeds before they buy

Large

55 API: LSO interfaces

Implement MEF-55 Lifecycle Service Orchestration B2B interfaces - Sonata (B2B) and Interlude (SOF:SOF)

Consumer Business

Idea Digital Fulfil Inventory

Innovate Provides visibility and control of customer's services. Acts as a roadmap to L2 unbundling

Better provisioning and assure experience. More informed about how their broadband services are working.

Large

56 API: Logical Network creation

Use LSO APIs and calls to create end to end Ethernet solutions on existing hardware interfaces

Consumer Business

Idea Digital Fulfil Access Aggregation

Innovate The ability to build customised Ethernet solutions rapidly, which can then be delivered in scale or one-off

More choice and solutions tailored to meet their business needs

Large

57 Consumer ONT(s)

Additional ONTs with different numbers of ports and features, such as WiFi.

Consumer Idea Home Access

Innovate The ability to offer differentiated services to residential customers

More choice and solutions tailored to meet their home needs

Medium

58 Layer 2 E-Tree Support Bitstream services using an E-Tree domain, so all users delivered at handover over a single VLAN

Consumer Business

Idea Aggregation Operate Simplified BNG design. Possibly useful for internet applications, with access controlled by IP addresses

Optimised internet experience

Large

59 MPLS Handovers

MPLS-based handover connections Networks Idea Aggregation Operate Allows seamless integration between Chorus and Service Provider network, with more efficient traffic handling

Optimised network services

Large

60 Real time network status on webpage

Display network map and API with green / red / amber indication of network status


Idea Digital Data

Operate Reduces fault calls during network events

Confidence in network performance

Medium

61 Diverse path management

Create a mechanism that describes a circuits unique diverse path, so it is easy see if two circuits are diverse

Business Networks

Idea Inventory SLAs Provides assurance that diversity will be correctly managed for the life of a service

Customers can get the right level of diversity that suits their business needs.

Large




3.3. Layer 2 products and support system domains

Chorus products are defined across multiple network and support system domains,

where

A product enhancement may touch more than one domain;

A new product will likely touch most domains.

Domain Description

Premises Services and features in the premises (home or business), including

premises wiring and integrating ONT/NID features with the premises network environment.

Access Connectivity between the ITP in the home and the Central Office.

For Layer 2 point to multipoint services, this includes the ONT, OLT (Access Node), OLT uplink and point to multipoint fibre interconnection.

For Layer 2 point to point services, this includes the NID, Access Node,

Access Node uplink and point to point fibre interconnection.

Aggregation Connectivity between the OLT/Access Node and the E-NNI;

It can connect POIs for Candidate Areas served by multiple POIs, such as

Auckland and Wellington.

Tail Extension is considered an Aggregation feature, but may self-consume backhaul to connect to a remote POI.

Backhaul Point to point connectivity between POIs.

Backhaul can also be used within a POI coverage are

Colocation Exchange space and related products that allow Service Providers to host

their electronics in Chorus or Spark exchanges.

Digital APIs and online channels that allow Service Providers to interact with

Chorus.

Fulfil Allows Service Providers to Move, Add or Change Chorus products.

Includes service availability, i.e. listing what products are installed or can

be installed at a premises and can therefore be requested or modified.

Assure Allows service providers to report issues with Chorus products and

services, and track the trouble ticket to resolution.

Includes diagnostic capability, i.e. the ability to view and test active services to see if they are working as expected.

Bill All pricing and billing of services, including one-off and recurring charges,

reconciliation and managing billing disputes.

Work

Management

The ability to request and manager Service Company resource for fulfil or

assure.

Inventory There are multiple inventory sub-domains:

Product and Service inventory, which document the product instances;

PSR Models, which map the data elements that define the product,

service and resource layers that make up a Chorus product.

Physical and Logical inventory, which map the product instances to

consumed resources;

GIS Plant/Asset Manager, a geographic information system that

records the physical plant and assets;

Data and

Reporting

Storage, management and reporting of data including:

Inventory;

Product reconciliation information;

Network analytics;

Operational data, such as fulfil and assure;




Figure 1. Layer 2 Product domains

Tail Extension(L2 only)

Chorus L1 Access Service

Co-locationChorus Backhaul

(ICABS or CRT)

Third Party Backhaul

HandoverAccess RSP NetworkCustomer Premises

SDUs

MDUs

Smart Location

GPON

10GPON

Active Optical Network

DFASCSE

Premises Networking

Aggregation(L2 Only)

Per Service

Aggregated

UNI

PoE

WiFi UNI

ATA

ONT/NID

Chorus Access Service

1/10/100 HoC

L1 Jumper

ICABS

CRT

Peering

COMCustomer Order

Manager

FSOMFibre Service Order

Manager

Element ManagersGIS Plant/Asset

Manager

Service Inventory

Order Manager

Work Management

Physical Inventory

Logical Inventory

Orchestration

Fulfil Assure Bill Operate

Channels

Chorus Portal

B2B

OFM

APIs

Availability

Connect

Modify/Move/Add

Remove

Educate

Test

Report/Inform

Fix/SLAs

Price

Bill

Audit

Dispute

Visbility

SLA Measurement

Reporting

Change Management

Retail Service Provider

Analytics

Gold/Silver/Bronze

Premium

PON DiversityHome WiFi

LAG Diversity

MC LAG Diversity

GPON Diversity

Capacity Planning

SFP UNI

Product Catalogue




4. The Chorus Product Suite And Layer 2 Unbundling

Chorus has been investigating Layer 2 unbundling and the underlying technologies that

support it. This section summarizes the outcomes and recommendations from this

investigation.

4.1. Network slicing

Network slicing is a new approach to wholesaling active infrastructure. It uses the

concept of Data Centre virtualisation to allow multiple Virtual Network Operators to

share a common physical network infrastructure:

Figure 2. Network slicing

The key advantage to this approach over the traditional wholesale Bitstream approach

is that:

In a bitstream model, the Virtual Network Operator service creation is

constrained by the common underlying Bitstream service;

In a network slice model, each Virtual Network Operator has full access and

control of their network slice, giving them complete control over their service

creation.

4.2. SDN and NFV

Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functional Virtualisation (NFV) are

new technologies that promise more flexible and agile solutions going forward.

These technologies are complementary, but can be applied independently of each other.

Service Provider 1 Access Slice

Service Provider 1 Service Provider 2

Diagnostics

Authorisation

Request Management

Configuration

OLTONT OLT-facing EAS Handover EAS

Logical/Physical Inventory

Product Catalogue

Service Inventor

Address Management

API Digital Channel



Monitoring, performance,

test, diagnostic and status

parameters

Controland

Configuration

Service Provider 3

Vir

tual

Ne

two

rks

Network Management

Customer Experience

Fulfil, Assure, Bill

Network Management

Customer Experience


Network Management

Customer Experience





4.2.1. Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Software Defined Networking is a set of techniques that enables users to directly

program, orchestrate, control, and manage network resources. It achieves this by

separating the control plane from the forwarding plane, allowing the intelligence to be

centralised and abstracted from the underlying infrastructure.

Figure 3. SDN generic architecture

SDN promises to deliver the following technical and business benefits:

Centralised Management, makes it easier for the Application Layer increasing

automation and control of the network;

Directly Programmable, allowing for better integration with upstream OSS/BSS

stack;

Reduction of CAPEX, by reducing the need for specialised networking hardware;

Reduction of OPEX, by speeding service creation and making it easier and more

efficient to make dynamic changes;

Agility and Flexibility, making it easier for customised and differentiated

solutions;

Enables Innovation by allowing changes to be tested and deployed quickly;

This technology is still evolving and current downsides may include:

Potential security vulnerabilities in the virtual infrastructure;

Availability/reliability limitations;

Higher cost per bit for solutions that may not need this flexibility;

4.2.2. Network Functional Virtualisation (NFV)

Network Functional Virtualisation (NFV) replaces dedicated network devices with a

software function running on general-purpose CPUs or virtual machines.

NFV Promises to deliver:

Network functionality that can be located in optimal locations with rapid

deployment and scaling;

Flexible relocation of network functionalities in order to suit changing needs;

Lower operational expenses using commercial off-the-shelf platforms – combine

multiple network functionalities on single server. Less space and power.

Simplified operations;

Faster time to market for new services

Application Layer (Business Applications)

Control Layer (Network Services)

Resource Layer (Infrastructure)Mu

lti-

Laye

r M

anag

emen

t Fu

nct

ion

s

Northbound APIs(Application Control Interface)

Southbound APIs(Resource Control Interface)




4.3. Layer 2 unbundling business model

In 2017/2018 Chorus undertook a lab and paper-based investigation into using SDN

and NFV technology to create a suite of products under the L2 unbundling banner. This

included looking at overseas case studies and deployments.

Figure 4. Layer 2 unbundling product suite

4.4. Investigation and analysis

Layer 2 unbundling was investigated against four key criteria:

Criteria Description Result

Position Network slicing seems a natural fit

with Chorus’ wholesale model, with

the potential to provide Service

Providers to consume a common

input service but retain the ability to

provide end-to-end differentiated

services.

Positive, depending on

technical and

commercial viability

Acc

ess

Agg

reg

atio

nIP

Ed

geM

arke

t P

rop

osi

tio

nR

SP f

un

ctio

ns

CLN

E

OLT

EAS

BNG

AAA

CDN Transport

CRM Sales

Billing FAB

PeeringInternational

ONT+RGW

OLT

EAS

BNG

AAA

CDN Transport

CRM Sales

Billing FAB


ONT

OLT

EAS

BNG

AAA

CDN Transport

CRM Sales

Billing FAB


L1 Unbundling L2 Unbundling Bitstream

NFV

DNS Cloud CloudDNS DNS Cloud

CP

E

ONT+RGW RGW

NFV

NFV




Criteria Description Result

Service Velocity SDN/NFV Promises much faster

service introduction, accelerating

revenue start dates, and delivering

products within the opportunity

window.

Positive but requires

further investigation.

Cost of

ownership

The move to virtualisation has

significant potential to reduce the

need for specialised and expensive

hardware

Negative. Current

assessment shows

that cost per bit could

be up to 30 times the

cost of specialised

hardware.

Revenue

opportunities

The flexibility and innovation

potential provides opportunity for

new revenue streams for Chorus and

Retail/Content Service Providers

Positive, subject to

demand and any

constraints for these

services.

The key conclusion is that the technology is not currently ready for deployment in a

wholesale context. SDN and NFV technology is not mature enough and the cost per bit

is too high at this time. It would also require new access network hardware, so would

need to be planned with network lifecycle upgrades to ensure efficient investment.

Chorus’ core business model is to provide an uncongested access network that provides

connectivity between a Customer premises and a Service Provider. Exponential

bandwidth demand means that keeping cost per bit down is critical for a successful

product.

However these technologies are evolving rapidly. One trend that could change this

picture significantly is network vendors are looking at hardware solutions that match

the SDN model:

The Control plane is delivered using virtualised hardware that supports flexible

NFV;

The Forwarding plane is delivered on proprietary switch fabric to keep the cost

per bit down.

4.5. Integration between network and OSS

One area that shows a lot of potential is using APIs to control and configure the Chorus

products.

This effectively acts as an abstraction layer, which allows Service Providers to get many

of the benefits of the SDN model, even if the network technology itself is not using

Network Functional Virtualisation:




Figure 5. APIs as an abstraction layer

The underlying services would initially be bitstream-based, but SDN and NFV features

and attributes could be introduced over time and published via the APIs.

4.6. Recommendations

While SDN and NFV technology is not viable today as a replacement for current services,

the drivers are real and the technology itself is evolving rapidly. It is not really a matter

of if, but when, where and how much.

The key recommendations from this investigation are:

Continue to monitor vendor and industry developments;

Implementation can be gradual, with some elements being virtualised first;

Accelerate the use of APIs to allow Service Providers more control and visibility

of their Chorus products. Where possible, align with industry standards such as

MEF-55 Lifecycle Service Orchestration

Ab

stra

ctio

n L

aye

r

Service Provider 1 Service Provider 2

Diagnostics

Authorisation

Request Management

Configuration

OLTONT OLT-facing EAS Handover EAS

Logical/Physical Inventory

Product Catalogue

Service Inventor

Address Management

API Digital ChannelMonitoring,

performance, test, diagnostic

and status parameters

Service Provider 3

Network Management

Customer Experience


Network Management

Customer Experience


Network Management

Customer Experience


Controland

Configuration




Appendix A Consultation Approach

Timelines for the overall consultation can be found here:

The aim of this consultation process is to create a working roadmap of committed and

proposed future initiatives with target releases. The next steps are:

Service Providers to review list and advise:

o Any additional items you may wish to be added to list;

o Any clarifications or concerns with any of the items on the list;

o Any items of particular interest;

Chorus will provide a more detailed impact assessment for the priority items,

for Service Providers to review, for example we have recently released a

consultation paper on WiFi and RGW ideas.

Initiatives will be prioritised based on:

o Industry feedback, as part of consultation;

o Doability, i.e. can it be technically done;

o Financial viability, i.e. cost vs benefits;

o Domain development capacity – this typically varies between domains

and over time.

https://sp.chorus.co.nz/news/fibre-product-consultation-post-2020




Appendix B Chorus Product Development

Chorus uses a co-innovation approach to product development that allows Service

Providers to participate in, and influence, the product development process.

B.1 Onboarding process for new products or features

Onboarding is a process to allow Chorus and Service Providers to work together to

ensure Service Providers can consume changes to the Chorus network or products,

including the introduction of new products, as follows:

Figure 6. Chorus Onboarding process

Initiatives that result in a change, or potential change, to Service Providers existing

products or systems will go through the Chorus Change process:

Figure 7. Chorus UFB Change Process

B.2 Chorus Co-innovation environments

Chorus provides a number of Co-Innovation environments to assist Service Providers

in developing and onboarding new Chorus products, services or changes.

Environment Description Types of Testing Notes

1 Non Production

Environment

(NPE)

The Chorus NPE is

located in

Wellington and

provides a full lab

environment and

test facilities.

Formal testing

including technical

interface and

compatibility

testing.

Predominantly

used for Chorus

TAT and BAT.

Rarely used for

Service Provider

testing.

2 Innovation Lab

(99 Khyber Pass)

Auckland-based

environment to

develop, test and

showcase new

technology.

Has access to

CCIL and

production.

Innovation

Technology and

product trials and

demonstrations.

CCIL testing for

Service Providers

outside Auckland.

Service Providers

need to book

space and have

equipment in lab.

Network

Lifecycle

Upgrade

Product/Offer

Proposal

Onboarding

Request

CCIL Onboarding

Model

Current

Network/Product

State

New

Network/Product

State

Change

Notification

TCF Product Forum

90 Days Consultation Process

Trivial Change

Notice

Major Change

Notice

20 Days

12 Months

Change

Implemented

Change

Implemented




Environment Description Types of Testing Notes

3 Chorus Co-

Innovation

Laboratory

Isolated

production

network in

Auckland and

Wellington that

provides test

capabilities to

Service Provider

premises.

Allows informal

and formal testing

of new offers and

features within

the Service

Provider’s

premises.

Intended as the

primary

onboarding and

co-innovation

facility.

4 CCIL Test Production-based

test circuits for

(limited) testing.

Allows limited

informal and

formal testing of

new offers and

features within

the Service

Provider’s

premises.

A secondary

onboarding and

co-innovation

environment.

Primarily intended

for Service

Providers that

cannot use CCIL

or pre-production

trials.

B.3 NGA ‘pick and mix’ product model

A key feature of NGA is the ability for Service Providers to create unique and

differentiated products and services that meet their business needs, by allowing them

to select non-discriminatory building blocks.

There are multiple ways Service Providers can differentiate their products using Chorus

inputs:

Customise the product within the Service Provider domain (CPE, upstream

network);

Different attribute values, such as Bitstream 3a bandwidth options;

Different combinations of Chorus products, such as Access + Backhaul;

Custom Chorus input services using common building blocks.

The following diagram shows how common building blocks can be used to create

customised templates:

Figure 8. Custom NGA Offers using common building blocks

Prototyping and

Development

Custom

Building Blocks

“Productised”

Building Blocks

Primary/Secondary

Access-EVPL

Access-EPLVoice-EVPL

UNI

Multicast Domain

Multicast Connection

XXX

XXX XXX

Template

Definitions

Template 1

Primary Template

2 x Access-EVPL

1 x Voice-EVPL

1 x UNI


Template 2

Primary Template

1 x Access-EVPL

1 x UNI


Template 3

Secondary Template

1 x Access-EPL

1 x UNI

CCIL-2

Agile/IterativeDevelopment

Service ProviderTesting

Commercialsand Pricing

Public Templates

Evolve 30-10-2.5-2.5

Evolve 100-50-10-2.5

Business 200

Service Provider 1

Offer 1

Offer 2

Offer 3

Service Provider 2

Offer 4

Offer 5




Chorus has delivered a number of private NGA templates using this approach, where

the NGA template is tailored for a particular Service Provider and only consumable by

them.

chorus product consultation paper product roadmap v1

Documents