Networks

Leased lines:Swisscom operates various data networks that support leased lines based on a range of different technologies such as SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) and, of course, Ethernet. Business customers can take advantage of permanent, overload-free point-to-point connections using bandwidths of between 2 Mbps and 10 Gbps. Redundancies are tailored to customers’ individual requirements in terms of availability and security.

Next-generation network: To enable more cost-effective use of new services such as VoIP and convergent solutions in the future, Swisscom is investing in a network infrastructure that is based exclusively on All-IP. This infrastructure allows Swisscom to offer services irrespective of the type of access technology selected (copper, wireless or fibre optic). Having migrated the data transport network to IP, commissioned an IP-based telephony and multimedia platform, and launched its first IP-based services such as Swisscom TV and VoIP, Swisscom has already gained experience in All-IP offerings. The first products based solely on IP were already rolled out in 2009 and supplemented since then by a wide range of new services and bundled offerings.

PSTN network:The PSTN network connects virtually all private households and a large proportion of business customers in Switzerland. Four-fold redundancy in the core network and two-fold redundancy in the switching layer ensure excellent voice quality and optimum security and availability.

Transport network: The transport network is a wide area network that connects the regional parts of the fixed network as well as the regional parts of the mobile network with each other as well as with the respective central network core. It also provides the link to computer centres and the global Internet. The transport network is used for all services (voice, video and data) and all customers (residential/business).

Wired access network:Swisscom’s copper access network largely consists of twisted copper-wire pairs and extends to virtually every household in Switzerland. Swisscom began with the expansion of optical fibre to homes and offices (FTTH) in 2008. It started rolling out broadband technology in 2000, first based on ADSL (coverage at end-2013: 98%), then in 2006 based on VDSL2 (coverage at end-2013: over 91%) and in 2008 based on optical fibre technology (coverage at end-2013: FTTB in more than 750,000 homes and businesses). To fulfil its mandate for basic broadband provision, Swisscom also uses wireless technologies such as UMTS and satellite. At present, ADSL is mainly used to provide Internet access. Internet access using very high bandwidths and more broadband-intensive services such as IPTV and video telephony are transmitted only over VDSL2 or optical fibre. A million customers are already using Swisscom’s IPTV, and more than 85% enjoy at least one channel in HD quality (high-definition TV). At the end of 2013 Swisscom launched a service on the fibre-optic network offering speeds of 1 Gbps.

Wireless access network:Swisscom operates a nationwide mobile network in Switzerland. The mobile services it provides are based on GSM, UMTS and LTE, the dominant digital standards across Europe and much of the world. Swisscom has implemented different technologies that enable transmission between handsets and base stations. In 2005, it enhanced all active GSM antennas with EDGE technology, a further development of GPRS. EDGE enables bandwidths of between 150 and 200 kbps and currently covers 99% of the Swiss population. Swisscom began rolling out UMTS as far back as 2004, and since 2006 has continued to expand its mobile network using HSPA/HSPA+. This allows download speeds of up to 42 Mbps. By the end of 2013, UMTS/HSPA covered around 98% of the Swiss population. Swisscom took another major step in 2011 when it became the first mobile provider in Switzerland to launch a field trial with LTE. Swisscom’s launched its 4G/LTE offerings on the Swiss market in December 2012 and has since extended coverage to 85% of Swiss households. With LTE currently supporting bandwidths of up to 150 Mbps, Swisscom already has the fastest mobile network in Switzerland and is aiming to further extend this technological lead.