THE NETWORK

The Network, based on a latest-generation flexible and scalable broadband infrastructure with nationwide coverage, represents the foundation on which Eutelia is built.

The BACKBONE has been designed to connect the main core business areas throughout Italy using latest generation structures.

This infrastructure represents the high-capacity backbone supporting all the transmission services provided. Eutelia has used this infrastructure to build its own METROPOLITAN NETWORKS in the major Italian cities, all with dual access to the long-distance networks for reasons of maximum reliability.
The Eutelia network has been created using not only underground infrastructure (about 10,800 km), but also overhead systems such as power line shield wires, a solution developed primarily in Northern Italy and covering about 1,286 km. The optical fibre used is the NZD type conforming to ITU/T G.655 recommendation so as to ensure that that the most modern high-capacity DWDM systems can be used.
Eutelia also has a radio link system covering about 1,769 km, integrated with the optical fibre network and constructed entirely by in-house personnel.
Finally, the network is completed in the South by another 2,800 km comprising 2.5 Gbit/s systems, incorporating leased Lambda (optical wavelength).

At international level Eutelia has 11 international POPs: three in London, one in Frankfurt, Praga, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna, Bucharest, Sofia and Kiev.

The POPs

Eutelia owns and manages an extended network of PoPs (Point of Presence), distributed geographically throughout Italy, which accommodates its own equipment and also offers a broad portfolio of Housing services.
The PoPs are chosen on the basis of a thorough analysis designed to ensure that the buildings and services that can be used therein are consistent with the maximum technological standards in similar secure environments. Particular attention has been paid to selecting the geographical location of the Points of Presence, locating them close to core business centres, as well as in the Telecom Italia centres and main communication routes.

Eutelia has 43 points of presence and is also found in the most important Italian telecommunication centres such as the NAPs (Neutral Access Points) of Milano Caldera (MIX), Rome (Namex), as well as TOPIX in Turin and TIX in Florence.

THE MANs

Eutelia has its own MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) in the major Italian cities and this makes its network coverage more extensive, covering about 750 km within the urban areas. The major Italian Telehouses and the NAPs (Neutral Access Point) of Milan (MIX) and Rome (NAMEX) are linked to Eutelia’s metropolitan optical fibre network. The following table gives details and maps of the cities:

Click on the name of the city to view the map

THE TECHNOLOGIES

The EUTELIA network is marked by a high level of innovation and features the following major benefits:

• use of the latest access technologies based on the different types of carrier medium: fibre, copper, radio (WLL, xDSL, Gigabit Ethernet, SDH, …);
• use of high-capacity and efficiency carrier technologies (DWDM, …);
• use of optical carrier (fibre) type G.655, particularly suitable for carrying signals at 10 Gbit/s;
• use of high capacity IP network infrastructures (gigarouter, MPLS, IPv6,…);
• use of Digital Radio Links;
• management and operating simplicity;
• use of in-house know-how, allowing flexibility and speed in developing and customising services;
• development of metropolitan networks at 2.5 Gbit/s.

SDH/DWDM transmission network
Eutelia uses DWDM (Dense Wavelength Digital Multiplexing) technology on optical fibre with 10 Gbit/s channels. The equipment used is based on MARCONI PLA/PLT technology.
The transmission network, also using MARCONI technology, is based on the latest generation of SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) devices (MSH and SMA series equipment).

Switching
The switching network is structured in hierarchical levels and is based on different platforms:

• TELES and AXE-ERICSSON technology auto switches for National voice traffic;
• AXE-ERICSSON technology auto switches for International voice traffic;
• TELES auto switches for the national transit level;
• ERICSSON EIN technology multi-service network based on centralised Call Controllers and Multi Service Gateway (MSG) equipment that can be distributed at geographical level for handling Internet access traffic (Decade 7).

Service Node
The network intelligence resides in Intelligent Network and Service Node systems, which allow a range of services to be provided including Carrier Selection and Pre-selection, the services based on non-geographic numbers (Freephone, Shared Charge, etc.), Code Hosting, Code Sharing, Number Portability, as well as the supply of Wholesale prepaid services; the portfolio of services also includes Prepaid Calling Card, Account Card Calling and Prepaid Account.

Access network

ULL
Eutelia has installed at more than 200 SL Telecom (out of more than 250 to be provided in the short-term) DSLAM equipment (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) based on AXH Marconitechnology and Narrow Band Multiplex (NB) based on AON-Marconi technology, able to accommodate customers with a broad portfolio of access solutions for voice and data services:

• POTS;
• ISDN BRA;
• ISDN PRA;
• ADSL on POTS/ISDN;
• HDSL;
• G.SHDSL.

35% of the ULL sites have already been reached by the optical fibre MANs.

WLL
Eutelia uses NERA Wireless Local Loop (WLL) access technology,having obtained the prescribed licenses in the 26 GHz band in Tuscany , Marche and Umbria.
The network topology for these systems is Point to Multipoint (P-MP), where the Master Station can be installed at a POP whilst the Terminal Stations are located in the Customer’s building.
Interfaces are available at the customer’s premises for voice traffic, E1 (which can also be split), V35/X21, Frame-relay and Ethernet 10-100 Base-T.