Innovative energy solutions for telecom networks in the new highly competitive environment

World-wide telecommunications infrastructure is being built and redefined by the advent of new technologies in fibre optics and broadband communications systems. Data and voice transmission no longer require separate facilities and are converging, determining more and more the adoption of common powering solutions using highly distributed architectures. Telecom Italia is adapting its network to the changes required by the high level of competition in the new market environment. In this context powering the telecom equipment is becoming more dependent on the application: central offices, access equipment and residential equipment need different powering solutions. In this paper Telecom Italia describes its main requirements in redefining its network powering, giving considerations on the following subjects: system availability, powering architectures, environmental conditions, system efficiency, remote management, etc. Italtel describes its technical solutions in answer to the new network powering requirements. These solutions take into account different telecom applications allowing the understanding of increasing request for powering flexibility and modularity in order to satisfy the convergence and integration of voice and data networks.