Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), a system in the DLS technology architecture, links and aggregates many customer DSL connections to a single high-speed ATM line. To enable DSL technology, service providers must have a DSLAM located in their networks to interact with the customer premises equipment (CPE) at the end-user location.
DSL technology is a platform for delivering broadband services to homes and small businesses. DSL can support a wide variety of high-bandwidth applications, such as high-speed Internet access, telecommuting, virtual private networking, and streaming multimedia content. DSL can transmit more than 8 Mbps to a subscriberenough to provide Internet access, video on demand (VOD), and local-area network (LAN) access. This increases the existing access capacity by more than fiftyfold, enabling the transformation of the existing public network. No longer is this network limited to voice, text, and low-resolution graphics. It promises to be nothing less than a ubiquitous system that can provide multimedia (including full-motion video) around the globe.
A DSLAM separates the voice-frequency signals from the high-speed data traffic and controls and routes digital subscriber line (xDSL) traffic between the subscriber's end-user equipment (router, modem, or network interface card [NIC]) and the network service provider's network.
A multiservice DSLAM is a broadband-access network element (NE) that combines support for multiple DSL transmission types. When coupled with high-capacity asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching, multiservice DSLAMs deliver scalability, port density, and a redundant architecture for reliability. Multiservice DSLAMs, together with various CPE elements, can enable the relatively efficient deployment of broadband networks for high-speed Internet access as well as voice and video applications. Such DSLAMs often allow for full ATM switching, traffic management, and quality of service (QoS), in addition to the delivery of a full range of services. These services include analog, ISDN, IDSL, SDSL, rate-adaptive DSLCcompetive access provider (RADSLCCAP), and RADSLCdiscrete multitone (DMT) on a single platform.
The multiservice DSLAM can also be configured to add value in the form of routing and security functionality. The device is intended to enable service providers to optimize the bandwidth of existing infrastructure as well as deliver high-speed, integrated services over a single physical-access medium.
DSLAM: Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer
Related Terms: DSL, PSTN, ATM, ADSL, ISDN, VDSL, HDSL, ISDL, QoS