Automation of Detection and Fault Management Response of Common Last-Mile Loss-Of-Connectivity Outages Within the Access Network

The article assesses whether it may be possible to recommend a solution to enable automation of the process of detection and fault management of common conclusive loss-of-connectivity last-mile outages, within the access network. To ascertain the utility of the research, UK based MPLS VPN managed service providers, their fault management staff and their business customers, were surveyed using online questionnaires for their views. UK public Internet users were additionally surveyed via five UK Internet forums. UK communication providers offering MPLS VPN solutions were characterised. Access network connectivity technologies and fault management functions were compared, contrasted and analysed. An aspiration for the solution to be beneficial to the largest potential population, meant that current non-proprietary Internet Standard technologies were selected, justified and identified which could be recommended for use. It was found that of the participating survey respondents, two-thirds were in favour of automation. Many current communication provider processes were found to be mostly automated. The article concludes with recommendations of how an automated solution could potentially be enabled. This involves further use of business-to-business interfacing between communication providers, automation of their Fault Management Systems and introducing Bi-Directional forwarding for detection between last-mile active network elements.