Service Description

BellSouth Exchange Access Frame Relay Service (XAFRS) is a connection oriented, fast packet access service used by Interexchange Carriers (ICXs) to aggregate traffic from multiple drops in a Local Access Transport Area (LATA) onto a single high speed connection to interface with their own Frame Relay network.

Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) ports send and receive data from a BellSouth Frame Relay switch to another carrier’s frame relay switch. User-to-Network Interface (UNI) ports are used to send and receive data from a BellSouth Frame Relay switch to an end user’s Frame Relay device (typically a router). There is always a circuit or channel facility associated with a port. Frame Relay NNI and UNI ports are available at the following speeds:

Exchange Access Frame Relay Service - Speed Availability
56 Kbps (DS0)	640 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	18 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)
64 Kbps (DS0)	704 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	21 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)
112 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	768 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	24 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)
128 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	1024 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	27 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)
192 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	1152 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	30 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)
256 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	1.536 Mbps (DS1)	33 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)
320 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	3 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)	3 Mbps (MultiLink Frame Relay)
384 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	6 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)	6 Mbps (MultiLink Frame Relay)
448 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	9 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)	9 Mbps (MultiLink Frame Relay)
512 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	12 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)	12 Mbps (MultiLink Frame Relay)
576 Kbps (Intermediate Bit Rate – DS1)	15 Mbps (Sub Rate DS3)	44.210 Mbps (DS3)

Kbps = Kilobits per Second
Mbps = Megabits per Second

Feature Description

Committed Information Rate (CIR)

Committed Information Rate (CIR) is a feature that enables the Customers to select a sustained throughput under normal conditions. A CIR must be selected for each Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI). A CIR selected with a value greater than zero (0) has a separate charge from the DLCI charge. Frames submitted at a rate above the subscribed CIR will be marked as “discard eligible” (DE) and if network congestion occurs, are subject to being dropped by the network. If CIR is set as equal to zero (0), then all frames will be marked DE, however in the absence of network congestion, DE marked frames will be transported with the same reliability as frames not marked DE. The CIR value selected cannot exceed the minimum transmission speed of the link at either end of the Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC). CIR for Priority PVC must be greater than “0” (zero).

Note: This optional feature is available with all services and enhancements except a Fast Packet Back-Up Port.

Standard DLCI, per UNI or NNI

This feature provides for the assignment of the DLCI’s per UNI or NNI. The PVC is created when two (2) DLCI’s are mapped together. Each DLCI is used to create the PVC segment and must be order separately (2 Access Service Request’s) unless the two (2) DLCI’s meet the Single ASR criteria. When the DLCI’S are mapped together, PVC is created. If an initial DLCI is ordered at the same time as the transport circuit, the charges are included with the UNI or NNI. An additional charge is applied for each additional DLCI that is requested.

Note: This optional feature is available with all services and enhancements except a Fast Packet Back-Up Port.

Priority DLCI, per UNI or NNI

Priority PVC capability allows the Customers to specify the importance of a PVC based on the importance of the data within the PVC as compared to other PVCs. The network will give procedures to frames of Priority PVCs over frames of Standard PVCs. If an initial Priority DLCI is ordered at the same time as the transport circuit, the charges are included with the UNI or NNI. An additional charge is applied to each additional Priority DLCI that is requested.

Note: This optional feature is available with all services and enhancements except a Fast Packet Back-Up Port.

Frame Relay Forum 5 (FRF.5)

This feature is considered Frame Relay to ATM “Network Interworking” and will allow the Customer to connect Frame Relay PVC to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) PVC.

Frame Relay Forum 8 (FRF.8)

The FRF.8 feature provides for “Service Interworking” which receives data as Frame Relay packets and delivers it as ATM cells. Interworking enables Carriers to aggregate traffic from their Frame Relay End Users onto high capacity ATM backbone facilities via NNI or UNI. Also, FRF.8 allows a Frame Relay End User to send data from a premise location with a Frame Network Interface (NNI or UNI) to another premise with an ATM service UNI (or vice versa). The overall concept of this feature is to enable Frame Relay and ATM Customers to transparently transmit data between each other.

Back-Up Port Service

This optional feature provides the ability to quickly switch from one Fast Packet Port to another in the event of failure on an existing Fast Packet Primary Port. The Back-Up Port feature ensures the Customer’s data traffic will be rerouted with minimal service interruption.

Note: This feature is not available for Sub-Rate T3, Frame Relay IBR and ATM IMA transmission speeds.

Inter Service Area Link (ISAL)

In Local Access and Transport Areas (LATAs) where there are multiple Managed Shared Frame Relay Service (MSFRS) Service Areas, the Customer may utilize a MSFRS ISAL to have connectivity on a per PVC basis between MSFRS connections in each Service Area. The inner service area portion of this type PVC is provisioned over a facility provided by BellSouth. This arrangement allows Customers to share bandwidth on these facilities that connect the two (2) MSFRS Service Areas.

Note: This optional feature is only available with Managed Shared Frame Relay Service (MSFRS) and Managed Shared ATM (MSATMS) Services.

Multicast PVC

Multicast Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC) is a Frame Relay service offering that allows a Customer to send a single stream of data to multiple destinations simultaneously.

Intelligent PVC

Intelligent Permanent Virtual Connection (PVC) is a Frame Relay service offering that allows the Customer to automatically reroute on a per PVC basis. Establishing a PVC with three (3) endpoints creates an Intelligent PVC arrangement.

Pricing

XAFRS pricing and terms and conditions can be found in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) No. 1 Tariff, Section 21.

Two discount plans are available for XAFRS, which are outlined below:

The Fast Packet Service Payment Plan (SPP) is available for individual unit term commitments on a per port basis. This term discount plan is offered for terms of 12 to 48 months. Fast Packet SPP rates will not increase due to any BellSouth initiated rate increases for the term of the agreement.

The Fast Packet Savings Plan (FSP) provides Customers credits on their bill in exchange for committing to a minimum level of total Fast Packet services revenue for a specified period of time. The FSP credits are earned for the aggregate revenue commitment rather than per port. FSP terms are 3, 5, 7 and 12 years, and discounts range from 7% to 54%, depending on the term and revenue commitment. For more information regarding the SPP or FSP, see BellSouth’s FCC Tariff No. 1, Section 2.4.8.

Ordering

XAFRS may be ordered using the Ordering and Billing Forum’s (OBF) Access Service Request (ASR). To order XAFRS, the Customer will submit the completed ASR to the BellSouth Interexchange Carrier Service Center (ICSC).