Pair Gain Systems
In the early 1990s phone companies around the world turned to newer technologies, such as fibre optic networks, to save on the laying of expensive copper networks. These systems were called DLCs (Digital Loop Carriers) or in Australia RIMs (Remote Integrated Multiplexors), and performed their jobs admirably for voice telephony and in many cases dialup Internet.
Instead of laying hundreds of pairs of copper wires for several kilometres to a housing estate or industrial area, a single pair of optic fibres could carry all the phone calls. Hundreds of pairs of copper were still used in the final few hundred metres of the network to deliver normal analogue lines as well as digital ISDN lines.
On a smaller scale when a household wanted a second line for dialup Internet access, they sometimes installed an ANT-1, which simply split the existing copper pair into two lines.
Together these type of technologies are called Pair Gain systems, i.e. technology which creates lots of copper pairs without building new copper networks for kilometres.
Unfortunately Pair Gain systems act as a "Broadband blocker" and don't allow ADSL signals to get through from the telephone exchange based broadband infrastructure (large DSLAMs). In many cases the small pair gain systems can be removed and the large scale pair gain systems can be upgraded with mini-mux (tiny DSLAMs). In some cases to allow broadband they will need to be replaced or augmented.
Due to it's rapid population growth in the 1990s (approx. 300,000 in 1991 to 420,000 people in 2004) the Gold Coast is particularly affected by Pair Gain.
Q: I think I'm on and RIM. Will I even be able to get broadband?
A: Fortunately RIMs are no longer being installed and new areas are having CMUX-AU (medium sized DSLAMs) installed. Other network infrastructure improvements include:
- copper transpositions through RIMs to bypass the fibre optic cable (only works if you are close enough to the exchange to avoid distance limitations, & there is spare copper)
- running more copper to some residential and business areas (only works if you are close enough to the exchange)
- putting mini-muxes (tiny DSLAMs) into RIMs (downside is limited capacity & very old RIMs can't have them due to lack of room or incompatibility).
- putting new CMUX-AU cabinets (medium sized DSLAMs) among RIMs & running copper to the RIMs which allows copper transposition. Click here for locations/addresses of the above 2 methods (approx 6MB excel spreadsheet).
Q: How will I know if and when I can get broadband?
A: Register your requirements with OntheNet. We will monitor the network upgrades on your behalf and contact you as soon as Broadband is available in your area. We use our local knowledge to your advantage.
Here are some photos of the various type of large scale Pair Gain systems found on the Gold Coast.
1st Generation RIM:
2nd Generation RIM:
3rd Generation RIM:
RIM Replacement CMUX-AU:
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