Access System for the Provisioning of Different Communications Sevices, and Method for Using Same

A communication aggregation device adapted to operate in an access communication network and comprising:

• at least one interface operative to allow communication with a plurality of subscribers;
• a plurality of communication devices operative to simultaneously provide required services to less than all of said plurality of subscribers;
• means operative to determine in case that a new subscriber is to be connected through said communication aggregation device, whether the service required for said new subscriber will be provided by using one of said plurality of communication devices or by a communication device installed at a different location;
• at least one automated switching matrix operative to associate a subscriber with an available communication device, and in case of a new subscriber, operative to allow the provisioning of the required service in accordance with said determination means.

A method for associating a street cabinet to an access network, which comprises

• (i) providing an input interface connected to a plurality of subscribers and an output interface, connected to an exchange side and/or to one or more other street cabinets;
• (ii) enabling the establishment of a maximum distance for each type of services required by each of said plurality of subscribers;
• (iii) selecting available communication devices suitable to provide required services to subscribers that cannot be provided with said required services by any communication device installed in said street cabinet, wherein the selection is done by using a criterion that each of the selected communication is each located within the maximum distance established from a respective subscriber to whom the required service should be provided;
• (iv) enabling communications between subscribers which are not provided with required services by communication devices comprised in said street cabinet, and the selected communication devices.