Telecom Network Architecture: SSA to GNE and MPLS-WAN Integration
1. Submarine Cable Termination Points in India
● Landing Stations:
○ Mumbai: Largest hub with multiple submarine cable systems (e.g., SEA-ME-WE
4, i2i).
○ Chennai: Major landing for Southeast Asia cables like TIC and SAFE.
○ Kochi: Connects with Middle East and Europe via cables like SEA-ME-WE 3 and
EIG.
● Role :
○ These stations are gateways for international internet and data traffic.
○ They convert undersea optical signals into terrestrial data formats.
○ Connect to NLD fiber that carries data inland.
2. NLD (National Long Distance) Fiber
● Function:
○ High-capacity fiber that connects submarine landing stations to inland data hubs.
○ Connects cities and major telecom infrastructures.
Characteristics:
● Typically runs on DWDM technology for high bandwidth.
● Carries data to Core Routers or GNEs located in metro cities.
3. MPLS Cloud
● Purpose:
○ Creates private, high-speed, and reliable data paths using labels.
○ Enables QoS, traffic engineering, VPNs, and redundancy.
● Core Elements:
○ Core Routers (P-routers): Handle label switching inside MPLS network.
○ PE Routers (Provider Edge): Interface between customer networks and MPLS
cloud.
4. Gateway Network Element (GNE)
● Function:
○ Acts as a central aggregation point for traffic from multiple SSAs.
○ Provides routing, switching, and policy enforcement.
○ Connects to MPLS via aggregation and core routers.
5. SSA (Secondary Switching Area)
● Components:
○ OLTs (Optical Line Terminals), DSLAMs, switches, and routers.
● Purpose:
○ Local access area connecting customers to the broader telecom network.
○ Aggregates user traffic and forwards to GNE.
● Capacity:
○ Depending on bandwidth and design, one NLD fiber can serve 5–15 SSAs or
more using WDM or ring topology.
6. Internet Access via WAN
● Devices Involved:
○ CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) like routers/modems.
○ Aggregation Switches collect traffic.
○ PE Routers forward traffic into the WAN/MPLS.
○ Firewall and NAT for security and IP address translation.
Some most important Q&A
1. How is an SSA connected to the GNE?
SSA (Secondary Switching Area) is a logical or geographical division in the telecom access
network.
GNE (Gateway Network Element) is a point where access networks are aggregated and
connected to the core/backbone.
Connection:
● SSA is typically connected to the GNE via aggregation switches or routers.
● This is done through optical fiber links (typically ring or star topology).
● At SSA, DSLAMs or OLTs aggregate access from users and send traffic upstream to the
GNE.
2. What is the role of a PE Router?
PE (Provider Edge) Router is a key MPLS device sitting at the edge of the service provider's
network.
● It connects to Customer Edge (CE) routers or switches.
● Functions:
○ Label pushing/popping
○ Routing traffic between the access and core network
○ Handles VPN, QoS, and MPLS encapsulation
○ Acts as a bridge between the customer and the MPLS network.
3. How are other devices connected through MPLS?
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is used to route packets efficiently in telecom
backbones.
Customer devices (CPEs) connect to the Provider Edge (PE) routers.
PE routers push labels to the packets, sending them into the MPLS cloud.
Inside the MPLS network:
● P routers (Provider routers) forward the packets using labels.
Traffic reaches another PE router, which removes the label and forwards it to the destination.
4. What devices are connected to WAN to access a network on a public
platform?
For public network (e.g., internet) access via WAN, the following devices are typically involved:
● Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
● Modems or ONTs (for broadband)
● Edge Routers / PE Routers
● Firewall / NAT devices
● ISP's Core Routers and Border Gateways (BGP)
These connect the user to the public internet via the WAN infrastructure.
5. How is one NLD fiber connected and how many SSAs can a single fiber
connect?
NLD (National Long Distance) Fiber is used to connect telecom networks across states or
cities.
● Connection:
○ NLD fiber comes to a central point (like a GNE, MSC, or headend).
○ From there, traffic is distributed to multiple SSAs using optical splitters, WDM,
or access rings.
● How many SSAs per NLD fiber?
○ This depends on:
■ Bandwidth capacity (e.g., 10G, 40G, 100G per lambda)
■ Distance and attenuation
■ Technology used (WDM allows multiple wavelengths)
○ Rough range: A single NLD fiber can support 5–15 SSAs, or more with high-
capacity equipment.
