Dynamic Line Management

Abstract

Talk Talk Technology has an ongoing programme of Dynamic Line Management (DLM), aimed at improving the performance of ADSL broadband connections. Choosing the most appropriate configuration, or "profile", for an individual line allows a balance to be reached between achieving a high line speed and a stable customer experience. Among the objectives of DLM are to determine the likely line speed of new connections and to identify lines that might benefit from an updated profile.

Addressing the questions raised by TalkTalk regarding DLM requires three complementary types of modelling: physical modelling of the electrical characteristics of ADSL lines (these are existing copper telephone lines); information modelling of the associated communication channel, taking into account the levels of noise and the coding of ADSL signals; and finally statistical modelling, which enables data gathered from the exchange to be used to construct relationships between key variables and to identify lines that might be faulty or on poor profiles. The work of the Study Group 2010 contributed mainly to developing the statistical modelling. The report summarises the progress that was made and the opportunities for developing these techniques further.