Integrated voice-data communication over high-speed fiber optic networks

A form of fiber-optic communication delivery in which an optical fiber is run directly onto the customers’ premises is called Fiber to the Premises (FTTP). This contrasts with other fiber-optic communication delivery strategies such as Fiber to the Node (FTTN), Fiber to the Curb (FTTC), or Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC), all of which depend upon more traditional methods such as copper wires or coaxial cable for “last mile” delivery (Fiber to the Premises, 2007). While high-speed fiber-optic cables are more often used to provide the primary links, the “last mile” to each home still plays an important role in the quality of service and bringing high-speed broadband to an area that is largely dependent on this last-mile connection. FTTP involves laying optical fiber from a central location (switch) to a termination point (the home or business), and could potentially deliver broadband at speeds of up to 100Mbps. The actual speed is determined by the size of the Passive Optical Network (PON). The technology is capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 2.5Gbps; this amount is divided by the number of termination points on the PON to determine the actual bandwidth to each end point. Replacing copper infrastructures with fiber to every home in an area is an expensive proposition, but the rewards could be great for telecom providers. An FTTP infrastructure would enable those providers to not only provide high-speed broadband; they could also expand into other areas such as cable programming. The Baby Bells have another incentive to roll out FTTP as well; the FCC requires them to share their copper wires with their competitors, but that requirement would not apply to new FTTP infrastructures. This ruling gives providers a major incentive to roll out FTTP, despite the large initial investment that is required. Copper, the predominant connection to the home used today, has inherent limitations both in terms of length from home to switch, and amount of bandwidth that is provided. FTTP also has a great advantage over Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), which provides broadband over existing copper, because DSL infrastructures must have more central relay points due to distance limitations. DSL is limited to only a few thousand feet between the switch and the home; FTTP allows for up to 49.6 miles (80 kilometers) between the home and the central switch. Cable broadband already has a head start, but FTTP offers some advantages, in that cable has a limited upstream bandwidth. FTTP, while still very new, holds great promise. It will enable providers to easily provide customers with a single bundle of services that comprise voice, data, and video. Ultimately, FTTP will deliver higher bandwidth to the home, and a wider range of services at an affordable price. While some FTTP projects focus on replacing existing copper cable, new “greenfield” areas such as new housing developments are likely to see FTTP from the very beginning (WiseGeek, 2007).

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Optical Communication

Resilient Optical Network Design ◽

10.4018/978-1-61350-426-0.ch013 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 290-315

Author(s):

Otto Strobel ◽

Daniel Seibl ◽

Jan Lubkoll

Keyword(s):

Optical Communication ◽

Communication Systems ◽

High Speed ◽

Fiber Optic ◽

Glass Fibers ◽

Data Communication ◽

Visible Light Communication ◽

Physical Layers ◽

Optical Communication Systems ◽

Polymer Optical Fibers

The idea of this chapter is to give an overview on optical communication systems. The most important devices for fiber-optic transmission systems are presented, and their properties discussed. In particular, we consider such systems working with those basic components which are necessary to explain the principle of operation. Among them is the optical transmitter, consisting of a light source, typically a low speed LED or a high speed driven laser diode. Furthermore, the optical receiver has to be mentioned; it consists of a photodiode and a low noise, high bit rate, front-end amplifier. Yet, in the focus of the considerations, you will find the optical fiber as the dominant element in optical communication systems. Different fiber types are presented, and their properties explained. The joint action of these three basic components can lead to fiber-optic systems, mainly applied to data communication. The systems can operate as transmission links with bit rates up to 40 Gbit/s. But communication systems are also used for recent application areas in the MBit/s region, e.g. in aviation, automobile, and maritime industry. Therefore—besides pure glass fibers—polymer optical fibers (POF) and polymer-cladded silica (PCS) fibers have to be taken into account. Moreover, even different physical layers like optical wireless and visible light communication can be a solution.

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