Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Effective Use of Fiber Deeper

2. Increasing Reusable Bandwidth

3. Determining Node Size

4. Using 1550-nm Transmitters

5. Technology Offers Lower Cost, Higher Value

6. Using 1310 nm for Narrowcasting

7. Raising Bandwidth While Lowering Costs

8. SONET Multiplexer Enables Voice, Data, and Video

9. Using the Analog Network for Interactive Traffic

10. Conclusion

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Definition
The latest generation of optoelectronics products provides a major increase in the capacity of hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks, allowing the delivery of new interactive video, data, and voice services. This tutorial summarizes the capabilities of these products and discusses methods of successful implementation.

Overview
As cable and telecommunications operators strive to introduce new services, they must find new ways to increase their network capacities at a reasonable cost. An excellent solution to this dilemma is the implementation of optoelectronics in HFC systems. Optoelectronics is having a tremendous impact on the evolution of the HFC networks required for high-volume, interactive multimedia traffic. The introduction of this technology enables networks originally designed for video services to provide reliable bandwidth for all types of interactive video, data, and voice services.

Optoelectronic technology allows operators to drive fiber deep into the network more effectively, make better use of existing bandwidth, economically increase bandwidth, and target programming to specific areas. Most important, optoelectronics enable the efficient delivery of many revenue-generating interactive services, which can make operators more profitable and competitive. In addition, the larger telecom industry can cost-effectively overlay video on fiber in the loop (FITL) architectures, efficiently carry analog video on synchronous optical network (SONET) backbones, and solve the power challenge the dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) deployments impose on optical amplifiers in the long-haul network.

Both the computer and telecommunications industries have shown a great deal of recent interest in HFC networks, as the pending AT&T–TCI transaction, Microsoft's investment in Comcast, and Paul Allen's purchase of both Marcus Cable and Charter Cable indicate. Some large, sophisticated players are betting on the long-term viability of HFC networks for broadband services.

This tutorial examines the effect optoelectronics is having on HFC networks and how this technology can be applied to deliver a variety of interactive services successfully.