The common denominator in broadband standards

By Joey Boyd and Sven Ooghe,
Co-Directors of the Common YANG Work Area at Broadband Forum

With a rise in the number and variety of devices inside the home, demand for greater network capacity is also increasing. In the United States alone, there are as many as 60.4 million households actively using smart home devices in 2023 which is already 3% more than in 2022. As access to fast broadband is now a necessity for all, broadband operators need to provide a solution that enables digital inclusion in the home.

These operators are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to make their operations more efficient and cost-effective. A familiar method that they use to achieve this is through automation of the configuration and control of network elements. However, the effectiveness of this method is challenged by the interoperability of network components from different vendors. With an increasing number of next-generation technologies being utilized in today’s networks, it is imperative that greater interoperability between different network components from varying vendors is delivered.

Broadband Forum’s Common YANG Work Area addresses this challenge by defining YANG data models for functionality common across access network equipment of various physical layer technologies. Thanks to greater interoperability, operators’ solutions can be more flexible and tailored to each customer’s deployment.

The heart of the process

Common YANG is often described as the cement that combines and connects the bricks of work and projects that take place within the Broadband Forum. The Common YANG Work Area provides assistance to other Work Areas when defining YANG data models for specific applications. The team is continuously evolving its work to address feedback from vendors and service providers to make its standardized tools more scalable and more efficient, as well as addressing new technologies and working with other industry standards organizations such as the MultiMedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA).

Recently, Common YANG has started work on defining YANG models used to manage MoCA Access 2.5 interfaces. The group agreed on the functional architecture of a fiber-fed MoCA access node, as part of WT-496 ‘YANG Modules for MoCA Access 2.5 Interface’. YANG data models will now be brought forward for further review and approval in interim conference calls. Once the latest document is published, any MoCA members deploying this technology will have the faith that it has been tested, certified, and standardized to deliver the best performance.

MoCA is a home networking technology that enhances Wi-Fi performance with a reliable, low latency, and ultra-high-speed connection. MoCA uses the existing coaxial wiring that is already present in most homes and brownfield buildings, acting as a cost-effective alternative to pulling new wires.

Common YANG Modules for Access Networks

Broadband Forum’s TR-383 ‘Common YANG Modules for Access Networks’ defines YANG data models for the management of access network equipment, such as DSL Access Nodes, Distribution Point Units (DPUs), or Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) to be used across many deployment scenarios and for a multitude of other applications. TR-383 is the core of YANG modules that are used across a broad range of products, including copper-based access technologies such as VDSL, G.fast, and fiber-based access technologies including G-PON, XGS-PON, and NG-PON2.

Amendment 6 of the flagship TR-383 was completed just ahead of Q1 2023. This new amendment aims to add new capabilities that address scale in large networks, as well as further enhancing existing functionality.

YANG Modules for Fiber-To-The-distribution-point (FTTdp) Management

As the number of fiber deployments continues to grow, operators need to be able to exploit the vast potential that greater interoperability brings and deliver ultra-fast broadband services. TR-355 ‘YANG Modules for FTTdp Management’ defines YANG models for the management interfaces to support Fiber-To-The-distribution-point (FTTdp) in order to enable interoperability for FTTdp management.

The team published TR-355 Amendment 4 last year, which adds support for the latest ITU-T Recommendations and provides a range of fixes and improvements. Operators can subsequently manage standardized FTTdp network elements from different vendors simultaneously, providing them with more choice and increased flexibility as ultrafast network rollouts ramp up. The baseline for implementation from the standardized network elements helps equipment manufacturers and assures reduced integration complexity of these new network elements.

If you are interested in learning more about the Common YANG Work Area and getting involved in our work, please contact: info@broadband-forum.org.