No C 304/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 11. 86 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Regulation on a Community action in the field of telecommunications 
technologies 
R & D in advanced communications-technologies in Europe 
(RACE programme) 
COM(86) 547final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 29 October 1986) 
(86/C 304/02) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 
therof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the Community has as its task, by establishing a 
common market and progressively approximating the 
economic policies of Member States, to promote 
throughout the Community a harmonious development 
of economic activity and closer relations between the 
States belonging to it; 
Whereas the Heads of State and Government, meeting in 
Stuttgart, Athens, Fontainbleau and Brussels, emphasized 
the importance of telecomunications as a major source 
for economic growth and social development; 
Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of 
the situation and development of telecommunications, 
stressed the key role of telecommunications for the 
future political, social and economic development of the 
Community; 
Whereas on 17 December 1984 the Council agreed on 
the main elements of a Community telecommunication 
policy in the field of advanced telecommunication 
services and networks involving actions at the 
Community level; 
Whereas with the emergence of new services and the 
progressive convergence of telecommunications, data processing and wider public services the trend is towards 
a Europe-wide integrated broadband network 
(integrated broadband communication — IBC) capable of 
supporting a wide range of customers and service 
providers; 
Whereas developments in telecommunications will 
benefit the international competitiveness of the European 
economies in general and of the telecommunications 
industries in particular; 
Whereas advanced telecommunications will contribute to 
regional development within the Community and 
specifically support for the development of common 
functional specifications for equipment and services will 
permit the less-developed regions to benefit fully from 
the efforts of Member States piloting the telecommuni­
cations developments in the Community; 
Whereas the development of the IBC offers a wide range 
of opportunities for small and medium-sized companies 
in the manufacture of equipment and in the provision of 
specialized services within the Community; 
Whereas in response to the requirement of using fully 
the economic and market potential of telecommuni­
cations, the Commission has submitted a programme of 
action which has been recognized as a base for further 
work by the Council; 
Whereas cooperation in R & D and the development of 
standards can make a major contribution, notably by 
facilitating the evolution towards future IBC in terms of 
transnational connections and also at regional and local 
levels; 
Whereas the 'Single European Act' provides a new 
political and legal base for the development of a 
scientific and technological strategy with particular 
importance being given to the goal of promoting 
industrial competitiveness; 
28.11. 86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/3 
Whereas the Research Council on 4 June 1985 
recognized the importance of the rapid establishment of 
a definition phase for the RACE programme, in order to 
prepare a general European framework for the 
development of advanced systems of communications for 
the future and to promote technological and industrial 
cooperation; 
Whereas the Council adopted by Decision 85/372/ 
EEC (') the RACE definition phase of 18 months on 
which to base the decision for the main programme by 
the end of 1986; 
Whereas the constitution or consolidation of a 
specifically European industrial potential in the 
technologies concerned is an urgent necessity; whereas 
its beneficiaries must be network operators, research 
establishments, undertakings, including small and 
medium-sized enterprises and other bodies established in 
the Community which are best suited to attain these 
objectives; 
Whereas the RACE definition phase has produced the 
requisite conclusions; 
Whereas the RACE Management Committee has carried 
out an initial assessment and called for the necessary 
decisions to be taken in time to ensure the follow-up of 
the work; 
Whereas it is in the Community's interest to consolidate 
the scientific and financial basis of European research by 
means of the involvement to a greater extent of parti­
cipants from European third countries in certain 
Community programmes and particularly in programmes 
involving cooperation in research and development of 
telecommunications technology; 
Whereas RACE will benefit from the results of ESPRIT; 
Whereas the implementation of concerted actions in the 
COST framework is an essential element to complement 
industrially oriented R&D projects; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide for the necessary 
powers; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (CREST) has expressed its opinion, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
1. A Community action in the field of telecommuni­
cation technologies, called RACE, is adopted for an 
initial period of five years commencing 1 January 1987. 
C) OJ No L 210, 7. 8. 1985, p. 24. 2. The action is designed, in concertation with public 
and private actions in the field of telecommunications 
technologies undertaken at national and international 
level, to promote the competitiveness of the 
Community's telecommunications industry, operators 
and service providers in order to make available to the 
final users, at minimum cost and with minimum delay, 
the services which will sustain the competitiveness of the 
European economy over the coming decades and 
contribute to maintaining and creating employment in 
the Community. 
Article 2 
1. The action programme, as set out in more detail in 
Annex 1, shall consist of three parts: 
Parti 
IBC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION 
STRATEGIES 
shall comprise work required for the development of 
functional specifications, systems and operations 
research towards the definition of proposals for Open 
Systems-conforming (2) standards, concepts and 
conventions and analytical work serving the objective 
of establishing interoperability for IBC (3) equipment 
and services. This work is to be carried out by appro­
priate organizations, groups and other bodies 
including, where required, contract work. 
Part II 
IBC TECHNOLOGIES 
shall comprise R&D cooperation in ICB 
technologies at the pre-competitive stage. 
Part III 
PRE-NORMATIVE FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION 
shall comprise pre-normative and pre-competitive 
R&D relating to cooperation in the realization of 
an 'open verification environment' designed to assess 
functions, operational concepts and experimental 
equipment with respect to functional specifications 
and standardization proposals arising from the work 
in Part I. 
Article 3 
1. Projects relating to the programme shall be 
executed, where required, by means of shared-cost 
contracts. Contractors shall be expectd to bear a 
(2) Open Systems-conformity stands for an international stan­
dardization effort to make equipment and services from 
different suppliers, operators and service providers interop­
erable. 
(3) IBC = integrated broadband communication (advanced 
telecommunication services relying on high-performance 
infrastructures). 
No C 304/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.11.86 
substantial proportion of the costs, which should 
normally be at least 50 % of the total expenditure. 
2. The contracts shall, generally, be awarded by open 
tendering procedure and involve the participation of at 
least two independent industrial partners not all 
established in the same Member State. The invitation to 
tender shall be published in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
3. In exceptional cases different conditions from those 
laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 may be adopted in 
accordance with the procedure in Article 8(1). 
4. The contracts shall be concluded with network 
operators, research establishments, undertakings, 
including small and medium-sized enterprises, and other 
bodies established in the Community or, under appro­
priate conditions fixed in implementation agreeements to 
be concluded, established in one of the non-member 
States referred to in Annex 2, hereinafter referred to as 
'partners'. 
5. Annex 2 may be changed by the Council acting by 
qualified majority on the basis of a proposal submitted 
by the Commission. 
Article 4 
The Commission is hereby authorized to conclude in 
accordance with the conclusions approved by the 
Council on 18 July 1978, agreements with non-member 
States participating in European cooperation in the field 
of scientific and technological research (COST) with a 
view to ensuring concerted action between the 
Community activities relating to the collaboration in 
research and development referred to in Annex 1 and the 
relevant programmes of such States. 
Article 5 
1. The Community shall contribute to the per­
formance of the programme within the limits of the 
appropriations entered to this end in the budget of the 
European Communities. 
2. The amount of the appropriations estimated 
necessary for the Community's contribution to the per­
formance of the programme amounts to 800 million 
ECU over five years, including expenditure on staff, 
whose cost shall not exceed 4,5 % of the Community 
contribution. 
Article 6 
1. The Commission shall ensure that the programme 
is properly performed and establish the appropriate 
implementation measures. 
2. In accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 8(1) the Commission shall establish for each year 
and update as required a draft workplan defining the detailed objectives, the type of projects and actions to be 
undertaken and the corresponding financial plans. 
3. In accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 8 (2) the Commission shall consult the 
Committee on the selection of individual projects. It may 
consult the Committee on any other matter falling within 
the scope of this Regulation. 
Article 7 
The Commission shall be assisted in the performance of 
its tasks by a management committee, hereinafter 
referred to as the 'Committee'. The Committee, 
consisting of two representatives of each Member State, 
shall be set up by the Commission on the basis of 
nominations by the Member States. 
Members of the Committee may be assisted by experts or 
advisors depending on the nature of the issues under 
consideration. 
The Committee shall be chaired by a Commission 
representative. 
The proceedings of the Committee shall be confidential. 
The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 
The secretarial services shall be provided by the 
Commission. 
Article 8 
1. Where the procedure laid down in this paragraph is 
to be followed, the chairman shall submit to the 
Committee a draft of the measures to be adopted. 
The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft 
measures within a time limit set by the chairman in 
accordance with the urgency of the matter. An opinion 
shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 
148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of Decisions which the 
Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the 
Commission. The votes of the representatives of the 
Member States within the Committee shall be weighted 
in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall 
not vote. 
The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply 
immediately. However, if these measures are not in 
accordance with the opinion of the Committee, they 
shall be communicated by the Commission to the 
Council forthwith. In that event the Commission may 
defer application of the measures which it has adopted 
for not more than one month from the date of such 
communication. 
The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a 
different Decision within one month. 
2. Where the procedure laid down in this paragraph is 
invoked the Committee shall deliberate on requests for 
an opinion formulated by the Commission. The 
Commission, in inviting the opinion of the Committee, 
may fix a period within which the opinion should be 
given. The deliberations of the Committee shall not be 
28.11.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/5 
followed by a vote. Nevertheless, any member of the 
Committee may request that his opinion be entered in 
the minutes. 
Article 9 
1. The programme shall be reviewed after 30 months. 
The Commission shall inform the Council and European 
Parliament of the results of this review. 
2. The programme may be extended for a second 
period of five years, following a proposal from the 
Commission. 
3. After the completion of the first five-year period of 
the programme the Commission, after consulting the 
Committee, shall send to the Member States and the 
European Parliament a report on the performance and 
results of the programme. Article 10 
With regard to the coordination activities provided for in 
Article 1 (2), the Member States and the Commission 
shall exchange all appropriate information to which they 
have access and which they are free to disclose 
concerning activities in the areas covered by this Regu­
lation, whether or not planned or carried out under their 
authority. 
Information shall be exchanged according to a procedure 
to be defined by the Commission after consulting the 
Committee, and shall be treated as confidential at the 
suppliers' request. 
Article 11 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1987. 
It shall apply until 31 December 1991. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States. 
No C 304/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.11.86 
ANNEX 1 
RACE (') 
SUMMARY OF AREAS 
Part I: IBC development and implementation strategies 
1.1. IBC reference model (continuation of RDP work) 
1.2. System analyses and functional specification 
1.3. Implementation and planning support 
Part II: IBC technologies 
II. 1. Enabling and supporting IBC technologies 
11.2. Communication software technologies 
11.3. Basic technologies for IBC users 
/ II.4. Subsystems and techniques 
Part III: Pre-normative functional integration 
III. 1. Customer facilities 
111.2. User access 
111.3. Network functions 
RACE WORKPLAN SUMMARY (2) 
In order to achieve the underlying objectives described in the previous section, RACE main would be 
structured into three main parts: 
PARTI 
IBC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES 
Relating to the development of functional specifications, the systems and operations research towards 
the definition of proposals for IBC standards, concepts and conventions conforming to an open 
systems approach, and the analytical work serving the objective of establishing interoperability for IBC 
equipment and services. 
PART II 
IBC TECHNOLOGIES 
Covering the technological cooperation in pre-competitive R&D addressing key requirements of new 
technology for the low-cost realization of IBC equipments and services. 
PART III 
PRE-NORMATIVE FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION 
Relating to pre-normative cooperation in the realization of an 'open verification environment' 
designed to assess functions, operational concepts and experimental equipment with respect to func­
tional specifications and standardization proposals arising from the work in Part I. 
The corresponding work areas, tasks and approaches are specified in detail in the RACE workplan which 
is under preparation and will be submitted separately. 
(') The scope of the work referred to here is described in the following pages. 
(2) The full RACE workplan is a detailed technical document which evolves with technological progress and improved 
perception of the demand characteristics. Each year it is to be submitted for approval by the management committee. 
28.11.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/7 
This work is to be carried out by industry, academics and telecommunication operators. The latter are 
expected to finance independently the work falling within their domain. 
The following sections provide a description of the scope and nature of the work to be undertaken. 
Part I: IBC DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES 
Objective 
The main objectives of the work under Part I are to achieve, throughout the introduction and further 
enhancement of IBC: 
— a common understanding of the evolution towards introduction of IBC and its implications including 
market research and promotion of the IBC concept and services in Europe and internationally, 
— a common definition and understanding of the IBC system and subsystems, between all main actors 
concerned, 
— guidelines for the functional specification of IBC systems and subsystems and the development of 
integrated services, 
— a framework in which to identify the technology requirements and to assess the implications of 
technological advances and the evolution of service demands for the priorities in RD & E, 
— a tool for the evaluation of cost-effectiveness of various technological solutions, implementation 
schemes and evolutionary routes starting from the given situation, 
— mechanisms for analyzing and assessing, at an early stage, the requirements for standardization 
proposals and functional specifications in order to facilitate and accelerate the emergence of inter­
national standards. 
Scope 
To meet these objectives, Pan I would comprise two major areas of activity: 
— maintenance and further development of the European reference model for integrated broadband 
communication, defined in its initial form during the RACE definition phase, 
— systems analysis and engineering work to transform the concepts derived in the reference model into 
systems and subsystems functional specifications. 
1.1. Further development of the IBC reference model 
Objective 
IBC is a broad field of activities which requires the purposeful work of many independent actors. They all 
need to be able to situate their respective work in the context of evolving objectives, conditions and rapid 
technological change and demand. In functional terms it covers: 
— transport, relating to the infrastructural functions needed to interconnect users to users and users to 
service providers, 
— processing, which relates to the equipment functions (hardware and software) required for users and 
service providers, 
— applications, corresponding to the needs of a wide range of end users and/or service providers. 
Scope 
The work in this part will, therefore, consist of three areas of strongly interrelated reference model 
activities: 
Network reference model 
Based on definitions of IBC services, requirements of network functions, and of network operation 
and maintenance services, interfaces (with customer premises, non-IBC networks, service providers), 
etc., will be defined to form the main network reference model. This base of information will then be 
used to generate standards and system specifications. Taking into account technology resources, 
No C 304/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.11. 86 
geo-demographic environments, evolution of techniques, etc., scenarios of an implementation of the 
IBC main network will be built to assess best techno-economic strategies for IBC introduction and 
the progressive integration of other telecommunication services. 
Customer premises reference model 
From specific requirements of domestic and business applications a functional reference model is to be 
set up to provide guidelines with respect to functional specifications and standards of future customer 
products like terminals, home network, etc. To complement this reference model, scenarios of 
implementation, taking into account the various environment constraints, will be built to assess the 
various techno-economic solutions for the introduction of IBC customer premises networks and the 
progressive integration of services into common equipment. 
Applications and services reference model 
Potential application domains of IBC (i. e. entertainment, education, press distribution, bank, office 
computing), have to be surveyed to identify their specific requirements, in terms of information type, 
information access, information security, etc., from which services will be derived. A reference model 
of service characteristics and performances will be developed and constantly refined according to 
information collected from specific surveys, e.g. results of exploitation of new experimental national 
networks, so that IBC services comply as nearly as possible with user needs and evolution trends. 
Mobile communications integration 
Broadband communication networks will be accessed from mobile terminals as integration of services 
takes place. Alternative solutions to realize the integration such as total overlay networks and 
gateways between mobile and IBC networks, or partial integration of mobile and IBC networks will 
be assessed on a techno-economic base. Specific functional, performance, and standardization 
requirements will be defined to allow development of the equipment. Particular attention will be paid 
to identification of radio frequencies able to support transmission of wide-band services, and on the 
use of micro-cellular techniques vis-a-vis other possibilities. Needs for further R & D on mobile 
technologies will be identified and will complement the work to be carried out in Part II (IBC 
technology). 
Note: 
Support in the form of an analytical assessment service will be provided, as a tool to help adjust 
dynamically the emphasis and thrust of the work, as well as keeping its information base up to date. 
The detailed rationale, objectives and scope of the reference model activities will largely evolve from 
those of the definition phase Part I activity. 
1.2. Systems analysis and functional specification 
Objective 
The reference model work of 1.1 represents a major concertation exercise to produce consensus views on 
the evolution towards IBC and its broad functional specifications. To formulate more specific functional 
specifications for IBC systems, subsystems and services, and to provide a two-way link between the 
reference model and the other RACE activities, area 1.2 will carry out the required systems analysis. 
Scope 
The scope includes the consideration of: 
— network architectures, 
— high-layer functions in an integrated network, 
— terminals and gateways, 
— customer premises networks, 
— channel definitions, code conversion and redundancy reduction, 
— switching subsystem, 
— signalling subsystem, 
— customer access subsystem, 
28.11.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/9 
— network management and operation, 
— man-machine interfaces (human factors), 
— security and privacy, 
— needs of mobile communications, 
— standards, conventions and codes of practice for hardware, software, simulation and testing. 
Specifically the work in the following areas is envisaged: 
Network architecture 
The two major aspects of this work concern the definition of a long-range target network architecture 
and the definition of evolutionary strategies to meet that target. These studies will particularly address 
the problem of moving from the present fragmental technical and marketing situation to convergence 
upon a single cost-effective IBC network. 
High-layer Junctions in an integrated network 
Advanced telecommunications networks such as the IBC network transport all information as digital 
bit streams and implement layers 1 to 3 of the OSI model. The IBC network, however, will also carry 
out the processing and other functions needed to manage and maintain the network. This means 
implementing the higher layers (4 to 7) of the OSI model in certain cases. 
IBC termination 
The IBC will provide terminations for customers and service providers and will also require gateways 
to other networks. Work in this area will cover the definition and implementation of the many 
interfaces involved in these terminations, including user/network interfaces for HDTV, video-
telephony etc., the human factor aspects of terminal interface design and the interworking interfaces 
that will be required during the emergence of the IBC network. 
Channel definition, code conversion and redundancy reduction 
The transmission of high-definition TV, video and audio information will require high-bit-rate, high-
quality communication channels and one set of tasks in this area will be to define the channels to be 
provided by the IBC network. Signal processing and coding techniques such as redundancy reduction 
will be exploited to reduce the bit rates required and hence to enable the IBC to offer new wide-band 
services at an early date and at an acceptable cost. 
Switching requirements 
The IBC will demand new generations of switching equipment operating at 20 times or more the 
speed required for the ISDN, whilst offering considerably enhanced functionality. Work in this area 
will focus on the design implications of these requirements and will examine a number of switching 
configurations, including new kinds of circuit switch and packet switch and new technological options 
such as optical switching. 
Signalling techniques 
The IBC will offer a wide range of sophisticated services in an integrated manner and will therefore 
need enhanced signalling protocols both for user-network signalling and for signalling within the 
network, e.g. CCITT signalling system No 7. 
Customer access system 
Users will gain access to the IBC network via a terminal, a customer premises network (CPN) and the 
customer access system (CAS) which connects the customer premises network to user-dedicated 
termination equipment within the IBCN. The customer access system thus makes available the IBC 
services demanded by the user, and in particular manages the mixing and separation of communi­
cation and distribution traffic-streams. 
Functional network reference model 
The large bandwidth offer of IBC will result in a high degree of function distribution in the network. 
Functions such as network management, network maintenance, network measurement, and network 
statistics, charging and subscriber administration will be supplied by separate hardware units with the 
corresponding software. This has to be realized for a heterogeneous network situation characterized 
by different types and generations of installations. 
No C 304/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.11. 86 
The work in this area covers the definition and specification of a functional network reference model 
for the IBCN including the consideration of these requirements. 
1.3 Implementation and planning support 
Objective 
The convergence and transition to IBC represents a major problem in managing the complexity of the 
technical issues. This does require a specific effort which is the objective of the work defined here. 
Scope 
Specifically the work is to concentrate on: 
Common tool environment for telecommunications design, development, testing and maintenance 
Moving towards IBC implies a complex R&D process relying on the concerted efforts of a large 
number of actors. Powerful tools will be needed to support the R&D process and this area is aimed 
at the development of the common parts of such a tool environment jointly, or according to joint 
specification, for common use. The aim is to minimize waste of effort and to maximize what is 
common between R&D projects by agreeing, developing and promulgating common facilities for 
testing, simulation and software development. 
Joint definition of common test facilities 
The task is to analyze and recommend common test facilities and the formats for data interchange. 
This will allow the use of common test facilities for system development, installation and acceptance. 
Test reports will follow an identical format so that test results can be interchanged. 
Development of IBC simulations for Junctional integration 
In order to ensure the unification of the functional integration, a set of IBC environmental simulators 
is required. These simulators must evolve in sophistication in step with the advancing knowledge of 
the IBC characteristics, in some cases being gradually replaced by actual hardware or software 
implementations of the environment. 
Joint definition of software development environments 
It is necessary for the software developed during the RACE programme to be compatible and, at least 
to some extent, portable. This will require in turn that a common software infrastructure be adopted 
for the generation of those software parts that need to be compatible and/or portable (see II.2 for 
software infrastructure development). This part of the programme involves investigations and 
negotiations in order to agree on a policy to be followed and to specify the software infrastructure to 
be employed. 
Standards and conventions for portability and re-usability 
RACE cannot be conceived without an active two-way relationship with international standards 
organizations. A specific mechanism will need to be embedded in RACE so as to generate the 
execution of this essential task. In addition, resulting from the work on the reference model and the 
system analysis and specification of Part I, there will be a very considerable volume of results relating 
to common conventions, standards and codes of practice which will need to be collated, tested for 
consistency and promulgated in a coherent manner to the RACE participants. 
Programme management support 
These activities concern specific and substantial tasks necessary to ensure an adequate degree of 
programme management and coordination. Dominant issues are the analysis and promulgation of 
scenarios underlying the IBC reference model and the IBC configuration management and documen­
tation control. 
Part II: IBC TECHNOLOGIES 
Objective 
The objective of this Part is to carry out cooperative R & D on the key technologies required for low-cost 
realizations of IBC equipment and services. As such, it will be system-driven and sepcifically related to the 
functional specifications derived by Part I. 
28.11.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/11 
Scope 
The scope of the work will include the research, test and experimentation needed to explore the techno-
economic characteristics of the new technologies relevant to IBC. 
The content covers IBC-specific hardware and software topics including: 
II. 1. Enabling and supporting IBC technologies 
Specific ICs for IBCN 
Specific components are required for low-cost implementation of customer access circuits (TDM multi­
plexer/demultiplexers, line coder/decoders, etc.) making use of the maturity of silicon technology as well 
as the progress in gallium arsenide material technology in order to obtain better cost-performance trade­
offs. 
Integrated optoelectronic devices required for broadband communications systems 
The potential advantages of optoelectronic circuits (OEICs) associating monolythically on a single 
semiconductor chip several electronic, optical and optoelectronic functions are to be exploited on 
compound semiconductors, in particular, on InP-based materials. Improvement in performance (speed and 
noise), reliability and reduction of cost is aimed at. 
Broadband switching techniques 
Competing techniques have to be explored in parallel until the potential of a specific approach can 
conclusively be judged with respect to time of availability and area of application. Low-power-dissipation 
space switching and time-division switching place stringent requirements on semiconductor components as 
well as system design. Optical switching may offer an alternative solution, but requires further intensive 
research focusing on developing the required features and performance characteristics. 
Design tools for complex systems 
Expansion of existing techniques for systems and subsystems specifically oriented towards the 
implementation of equipment for broadband communications, as well as simulation on optical transmission 
media including the electrical terminations. 
Low-cost optical components 
In any large scale introduction of IBC some components will be needed in very large volumes and have a 
significant impact on the systems-costs both due to their price as well as performance characteristics such 
as mean time before failure. To produce key components such as reliable sources and detectors the device 
and process technologies need to be advanced very considerably. 
High-bit-rate links 
High-bit-rate transmission in the customer loop would precipitate an enormous increase in long-haul 
traffic, which leads to requirements additional to those met by direct detection techniques. The 
development of coherent links (homodyne or heterodyne detection) implies an intensification of the work 
on specific devices such as DFB lasers, optical amplifiers, etc. In addition to long-haul applications 
coherent systems might revolutionize network architectures in the customer loop. 
II.2. Communications software technologies 
Software infrastructure 
The IBC network will require software whose requirements are at least as complex as those of present day 
telecommunications systems. Significant increases in programming productivity can be achieved by the 
provision of a unified software infrastructure, covering specification, implementation, on-line environment, 
testing, re-usability and the corresponding tool set. 
Requirements definition tools 
The process of requirements capture and their subsequent mapping onto a system architecture precedes the 
life-cycle for both hardware and software development. Requirements in the telecommunication field are 
characterized by a large number of necessary options. These requirements cover the functional system 
behaviour, interfaces (ISO-OSI) and performance. Considerable effort is needed to establish a framework 
for the requirements work, which will allow for checking of consistency and completeness. 
No C 304/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 11.86 
11.3. Basic technologies for IBC users 
Audio/video processing — redundancy reduction 
Present quality TV transmission and 'enhanced'/HDTV, to a much higher degree, impose severe 
transmission and switching requirements. Optimum trade-offs between transmission bit-rate and bandwidth 
compression have to ensure a minimum acceptable cost for the user. Extensive work is required in video 
signal processing, coding techniques, system design etc., coupled with advances in semiconductor 
technology in order to develop cost-effective coding/decoding devises. 
Broadband in the customer premises network 
RACE is addressing the provision of advanced telecommunications services to the general public. The need 
to make advanced integrated services available to the general user at an acceptable cost implies the func­
tional integration with television (and HDTV), telephony (and video-telephony) as well as new services 
such as home shopping, electronic mail, etc. To achieve this at a cost level acceptable to the general public 
represents a major cost-performance challenge. The purpose here is to develop the systems concepts and 
systems technology with advanced cordless links or optical bus for office and home applications fully 
coherent with public networks specification basis and applications functional requirements. Main lines of 
work will include switching and transmission. 
Image sensors 
The dominant characteristic of IBC networks is their ability to support moving image applications up to 
HDTV standards and to support high-quality professional documents transfer. Therefore work will 
concentrate on the technology work required to generate cost-effective image processing capabilities for 
the widespread provision of IBC applications, with particular emphasis on television and videotelephony. 
Communications display technology 
Large and small size high-quality displays will be key elements in encouraging the widespread use of IBC 
services. In this area work will address the development of items needed to support HDTV. In addition 
resources will be devoted to guarantee that optimal economy of scope is achieved in the design of 
components of the various advanced cost-effective display systems required by IBC. 
Digital image recording techniques 
Image-based applications of IBC will require recording systems designed to meet requirements specific to 
IBC networks operations. These requirements call for the development of both sequential and continuous 
video access methods (both for recording and reading) that need to be realized with low-cost techniques 
before IBC applications can be made available on a sufficiently low-cost basis, including image store-and-
forward functions. 
HDTV components 
This work relates to critical components for the realization of advanced HDTV concepts. 
11.4. Subsystems and techniques 
In this area work will aim at developing laboratory models for IBC-subsystems based, wherever possible, 
on technologies developed in areas II. 1, 2 and 3. 
Customer access realization 
The customer access system comprises the physical bearer that carries the customer's information together 
with the optoelectronic equipment providing the multiplexing, signal processing, routing, signalling and 
other functions at the interfaces to the users terminal and to the IBC network. 
Broadband switching modules 
Optical and electronic crosspoint matrices will need to be developed and qualified for use in the various 
switching applications within the IBCN, and these will require interfacing to the control/signalling infra­
structure and to the management/maintenance infrastructure. Loss, power dissipation, reliability, crosstalk 
and other parameters will need to be optimized. 
Broadband links 
Trunk links able to support high-bit-rate transmission (exceeding 565 Mbit/s) over long distances are the 
objective of the work. This work will concentrate on key components, like couplers, repeaters, transmitters, 
receivers and optical fibres with respect to meeting IBCN requirements in terms of transmission quality, 
reliability, and maintenance. 
28.11.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/13 
Satellite broadband links are especially attractive for distributive traffic over a wide area but impose severe 
demands upon frequency spectrum and on-board power. In the IBC, satellites will probably operate as 
intelligent switching machines rather than as passive relay-stations and the design of on-board equipment 
and earth terminals will form the major subject of these studies. 
Human factor and terminal engineering 
Most IBC users will be laymen and the IBC terminals will need to buffer much of the IBC complexity from 
the user and provide a simple, user-friendly interface orientated towards user needs, including special 
groups such as naive and disabled users. The study of human factors and the associated terminal design 
features is an essential part of the IBC workplan. 
IBC systems organization, management and maintenance 
The introduction of IBCN implies the ability to deal effectively and economically with all operational 
aspects. The work will include: 
— traffic and network control, 
— subscriber service management (metering, charging, monitoring, etc.), 
— network maintenance and configuration management, 
— network fault diagnostics and recovery procedures, 
— provider services management, etc. 
Part III: PRE-NORMATIVE FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION 
Objective 
The work is aimed at the validation of standardization concepts and pre-normative work as deriving from 
work done in other parts of RACE. The parts of the IBC systems or subsystems will be tested by means of 
simulation or research experimentation with particular reference to the needs of technological work in 
preparation of standardization proposals. 
Pre-normative functional integration serves several important functions. It will: 
— permit the verification of concepts, standardization options, reliability, security, as well as other key 
functional characteristics by simulation and testing at the research stage, 
— contribute to the reduction of risks for development and implementation by permitting the evaluation of 
the functional features by operators, industry and, where applicable, service providers and users, 
— provide a mechanism for demonstrating interoperability features and compliance to standards and 
specifications. 
Scope (3) 
The scope of the work is: 
— to test new technology, and devices from projects in Part II RACE, ESPRIT, relevant national 
programmes, international projects as an integral part of an IBC system to evaluate its functionalities 
and techno-economic performance characteristics, 
— to explore relevant performance parameters and confirm the feasibility of meeting the relevant 
requirements of the functional entity as defined within the reference model activities, 
— where necessary to assemble functional blocks into skeleton network configurations in order to test 
their interaction, with the objective of establishing that the IBC system operates as defined, and to 
verify that operation and maintenance procedures are meeting the overall network requirements. 
Within the overall IBCN there are numerous functions for which this type of work will need to be carried 
out. Though there are different classifications possible the issues can be grouped according to the dominant 
functions. 
(') The work envisaged within this part of the RACE programme is not expected to have the nature of demonstration 
projects or field trials. Such trials or prototype installations will be required before operational implementation of a 
harmonized set of IBC services can be undertaken but are beyond the scope and scale of effort under consideration for 
the RACE programme. 
No C 304/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 28.11.86 
111.1. Customer facilities 
Fixed terminal functions 
Prototypes of IBC terminals utilizing new technologies. An example is a multifunction IBC workstation 
capable of accessing a range of new services with special emphasis on video applications (e.g. HDTV, 
video telephone, etc.). The subject is the realization of aspects such as new display technologies (e.g. flat 
panels), the realization of functional and modular standardization concepts, the operation of internal bus 
structures, etc., in the context of advanced telecommunications termination of the IBC network. 
Customer premises network Junctions 
To allow interworking of terminals with the network interface (NT 1) within the customer premises, 
specific interfaces and telecommunications functions need to be realized to serve the variety of network 
structures and implementations to be expected. The telecommunication functions to be developed for IBC 
range from simple customer premises networks (e.g. simple interconnection of domestic equipment to 
external lines) up to complex customer premises networks (e.g. interworking of a variety of terminal 
equipment and a switching capability to the external lines). The functionalities to be realized need to 
permit the interoperation with a variety of external networks (public, private, DBS, etc.). 
Mobile termination 
Mobile terminals will need to be compatible with future IBC networks and services. The work in this 
domain will include the examination of the technical feasibility of overlaying or integrating various mobile 
radio infrastructures in IBC, and the level at which gateways between them and the IBC network should 
exist. This work will also include some work on mobile IBC termination. 
111.2. User access 
Customer access Junction 
To connect the customer premises to the first switching node in the main (broadband) network, a 
transmission link is required to carry several channels/circuits and provide a standardized method of 
connection between the two. Work in this area will range from basic access experiments (a few enter­
tainment channels with a few telecommunication channels) for typical domestic and small business 
customers, up to broadband integrated-service PBX access systems for large, sophisticated customer 
systems. 
Local switching Junctions 
In the local switching area typical functions to be addressed relate to the separation of entertainment from 
telecommunication services, methods of providing selection between entertainment programmes, the 
mechanisms of choice of the services themselves, etc. 
Head-end Junctions 
This work will address the functions required for the collection of entertainment services from a variety of 
sources (nationally distributed cable, local production facilities, DBS, off air, etc.) and distributing them to 
dependent local switching units. 
Local exchange Junctions 
To provide an interface between the customers and the main broadband telecommunications network a 
switching, concentrating and multiplexing function is required. This represents the traditional 
telecommunication exchange, although it may additionally be used to handle nationally distributed enter­
tainment services. Integration projects in this domain would test new technologies and concepts particularly 
associated with enhanced bandwidths for IBC (the broadband switching function in particular), and alter­
native methods of performing the switching function. 
111.3. Network functions 
Trunk exchange Junctions 
These are to provide interconnection including switching and multiplexing functions, between trunk 
transmission circuits in the long-distance part of the overall IBC network. Work in this area is similar in 
kind to that in realizing enhanced local exchange functions, but relates to the specific conditions of higher 
traffic densities corresponding to the higher relative position in the network architecture. 
28.11.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/15 
Transmission Junctions 
The work in this domain relates to the realization of high-data-rate functions between exchanges. It 
includes the necessary transmitters, couplers, receivers, etc., as well as the transmission medium itself. It is 
expected that these links will need to work at transmission speeds in excess of 565 Mbit/s using, for 
example, wavelength division multiplex (WDM) techniques to increase the overall transmission capacity. 
Operating and maintenance Junctions 
These are to provide a monitoring and control capability for the integrated broadband communication 
network functions. Integration projects in this area would include experiments on network management, 
fault detection and diagnosis, maintenance (on main network and customer links), etc., and would aim to 
test the new technologies, software and system concepts developed elsewhere within RACE, for suitability 
and techno-economic performance in this field. 
ANNEX 2 
The non-member States referred to in Article 2 (1) are: 
— Republic of Austria, 
— Republic of Finland, 
— Kingdom of Norway, 
— Kingdom of Sweden. 
— Swiss Confederation.