Fibre to the Residential Subscriber Terminal

Objective

The main objective of the project is to define an European solution for a technically and economically viable fibre based customer access connection (CAC) for residential and small business users. The specified CAC is tested in a field trial with real users. Results will be used for standardisation, network planning and equipment manufacturing.
The main objective of the research was to define a joint European requirement specification for a technically and economically viable fibre based customer access connection (CAC) for residential and small business users for carriage of telecommunications and televison which can be verified in an integrated broadband communications (IBC) network field demonstrator with real users connected.

Key issues in the research include:
interactive telecommunications services based on subcarrier multiplex (SCM) technology;
analogue television distribution;
bit rate reduced digital television distribution;
system aspects of the application of fibre amplifiers;
a standardized TV interface;
network management;
passive optical network technologies;
life cycle cost.

The main outcome of the project will be recommendations for a joint European solution for a fibre based CAC supported by the main public telphone operators (PTO) and the telecommunications industry.
Technical Approach

The CAC is based on a one-fibre passive optical network (PON). Video transmission is performed in the 1550nm window. The video transmission comprises AM-VSB modulated analogue signals and parallel transmission of BPSK, QPSK and 64 QAM modulated digital signals on subcarriers. Long distance transmission (40km) over standard fibre is made with externally modulated lasers and low chirp directly modulated lasers. Operation with cascaded optical amplifiers is evaluated. A return channel is implemented for Video on Demand. Telecoms services are transmitted bidirectionally in the 1300nm window using a TDM/SCMA transmission protocol. This technique has advantages in simplicity (no ranging required), low cost, wide range (30km tested) and high capacity (69Mbit/s implemented in field trial). The standard V5.1 and V5.2 exchange interfaces are implemented. A comprehensive management based on the TeMIP platform is implemented.

Key Issues

- Transmission of interactive services on PONs based on the TDM/SCMA protocol.
- Analogue and digital video transmission over fibre and coax.
- Digital video modulation schemes in terms of performance and cost.
- Performance of cascaded optical amplifiers in a hybrid fibre coax system.
- Evaluation of externally modulated lasers, low chirp lasers and standard directly modulated lasers for long distance video transmission over standard fibre.
- Definition and implementation of a low cost simple return channel for Video on Demand.
- Standardised V interfaces (V5.1 and V5.2).
- Network management.
- Reliability of passive optical components.
- Life cycle cost.
- Network evolution.

Expected Impact

The CATV system has given in a major break through for 1550 technology in new deployed networks. Technical quality of signals over wide distances results in a very cost effective system.

The good experience with the telecoms system with regard to robustness, long distance transmission ability and high capacity will provide contributions to standardisation work and network planning.

Fields of science

• humanities › arts › modern and contemporary art › radio and television
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › analogue electronics
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › information engineering › telecommunications › telecommunications networks › optical networks
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › laser physics

Programme(s)

• FP3-RACE 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of communication technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• T.720 - IBC implementation strategies
• T.722 - Monitoring of optical network implementations and their evolution
• T.830 - Upgrading of the first generation CAC systems
• T.831 - Second generation broadband CAC systems of enhanced performance
• T.832 - Applications of optical amplification
• T.835 - Optical networks layout: optical cables and passive components design and installation practice
• PL1 - Project line 1 - IBC developments

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

NKT ELEKTRONIK

Address

Nkt Alle 85
2605 Broendby
Denmark

Participants (9)

British Telecom plc (BT)

United Kingdom

Address

British Telecom Centre 81 Newgate Street
EC1A 7AJ London

Links

CNET France Télécom

France

Address

2 Route De Tregastel
22301 Lannion

GPT-TCL

United Kingdom

Address

Chequers Lane
RM9 6OA Dagenham

JYDSK TELEFON

Denmark

Address

Sletvej 30
8310 Tranbjerg, Aarhus

KABEL RHEYDT

Germany

Address

Bonnenbroicher Straße 2-14
4050 Mönchengladbach

Société Anonyme de Télécommunications (SAT)

France

Address

11 Rue Watt
75626 Paris

TELECOM PORTUGAL

Portugal

Address

R. Eng. Jos Ferreira Pinto Basto
3800 Aveiro

TELIA AB

Sweden

Address

Televerket
12386 Farsta

UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIRO

Portugal

Address

Campus Universitario, Dept Elektronica E Telecom
3800 Aveiro