Product documentation

Product information

Generic Ethernet Access (GEA) is a bandwidth configurable 'Layer 2' active bitstream Fast Access product.  Openreach launched its GEA product offered on Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) on 30th June 2008.  Openreach consulted with Industry regarding GEA over Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) during October 2008, an internal Openreach trial will take place at Foxhall near Ipswich early in 2009 followed by the first CP Trials at Muswell Hill and Whitchurch in May/June 2009.  A related product, 'Fibre Integrated Reception System (IRS) is currently under development.

GEA will offer two service options:

• GEA with Voice Enablement Port (VEP) channel - a 135Kbit/s  ‘fixed’ symmetric service 'Voice Enablement Port' Ethernet VLAN channel with enhanced QoS characteristics suitable for the running of Voice services;

• GEA with a Data Port (DP) Ethernet channel and the following options:
  • Assured Services - CPs can order either a GEA-Voice Enablement Port (VEP) product or a combination of one GEA VEP and one GEA DP from the available services
    • 2.5Mbit/s downstream and 500 Kbit/s upstream
    • 10 Mbit/s downstream and 2Mbit/s upstream
    • An additional 135 Kbit/s symmetric bandwidth channel if needed
  • Non-Assured Services as 'add-ons' to the 10/2 Mbits Assured Services - Openreach does not assure this higher bandwidth and the headline rate is dependent on the bandwidth available in the PON following servicing of all Assured services and bandwidth demands from other users.
    • a Peak Information Rate (PIR) headline rate of 30Mbit/s
    • a PIR of 100 Mbit/s
• GEA over FTTC service options are currently being defined and developed.  More details of this are available in the GEA over FTTC Product Proposal document (link below).
• GEA Cablelink - To receive the GEA products above CPs will also require a GEA Cablelink Product which includes a 1 Gbit/s interface.  This is a fibre tail connection from an MUA, CP area or handover point onto a 1Gbit/s Ethernet port on the OLT.

GEA-FTTP and GEA-FTTC contractual information

GEA Contract changes in notification period

The contractual documents have been reviewed and updated to reflect recent development to the GEA product. In particular, the following areas have been changed as shown by the highlighted text in the documents below:

• the introduction of SLGs for GEA-FTTC and SLAs for GEA-FTTP, and in particular in relation to EMP (Section B of Schedule 4)
• confirmation that GEA is included in the EIP reporting of EMP releases (clause 4.2 of the Conditions)
• the introduction of GEA-FTTP (Brownfield) and so necessary distinction from GEA-FTTP (Greenfield) as appropriate (Schedule 2C)
• developments of GEA-FTTC, including the home wiring solution as announced in the NGA020/10 Briefing on 6^th July 2010, simultaneous provision and expedite provision.

EMP Information for FTTC and FTTP

GEA over FTTC product documentation

GEA over FTTC consultation documents

GEA over FTTP product documentation

GEA over FTTP Trials

GEA over FTTP consultation documents

GEA Cablelink documentation