Access networks and physical media

Access networks and physical media


How to connect end systems to edge router?
 residential access nets
 institutional access networks (school, company)
 mobile access networks Characteristics:
 bandwidth (bits per second) of access network
 shared or dedicated


The access networks are the physical link(s) that connect an end system to its
edge router.The figure shows the access networks' links highlighted in thick,
shaded lines.
Access networks can be loosely divided into three categories:
o Residential access networks, connecting a home end system into the
network
o Institutional access networks, connecting an end system in business or
educational institution into the network
o Mobile access networks, connecting a mobile end system into the
network
These categories are not hard and fast; some corporate end systems may well
use the access network technology that we ascribe to residential access
networks, and vice versa.