Loop makeup identification via single ended testing: beyond mere loop qualification

Digital subscriber lines (DSLs) offer carriers the possibility of exploiting the existing loop plant to deliver high-speed data and voice services. However, before deploying DSL, local loops must be tested in order to see whether they can support service, and at what level. In fact, there are many impairments that could disqualify a loop for supporting DSL services: load coils, excessive loop length, bridged taps, and wideband noise. Single-ended automatic qualification is essential for achieving low-cost deployment of DSL, since it allows loops to be qualified in bulk and does not involve any human intervention at the customer’s location. An even more ambitious challenge is to fully characterize a loop, i.e., to identify its loop makeup. If it is feasible to perform loop makeup identification via single-ended measurements with sufficient accuracy, then operators will benefit substantially because, besides qualifying a loop for DSL service, this capability will allow the updating of telephone company loop-records. These records can in turn be accessed to support engineering, provisioning and maintenance operations. Despite its potential importance, the possibility of achieving loop makeup identification via single-ended measurements is not widely addressed in the current literature. In the present contribution and in a companion paper to be submitted, the feasibility of loop makeup identification via single-ended measurements is presented.