• TANTRAX
  • RFoG
  • Headend optical platform

Optical nodes and receivers

Description

Optical link Higher capacity optical network
In today’s world of growing competition and more demanding requirements of Clients, one of the most important ways of gaining and maintaining a subscriber is to extend your offer and to continually improve the quality of offered services.
We are observing the dynamic development of Triple Play services, forcing cable operators to keep investing in network development. Today, the most popular method of raising the quantity and quality of services offered is the development of HFC architecture, with a visible migration towards the growing optical part.
To meet the expectations of its Clients, VECTOR has prepared a comprehensive offer of optical systems, which for cable operators guarantee investment savings and the safety of project implementation.
Figure 1 - HFC network..
Figure 2 - Segmentation in the transmission channel - adding nodes in an existing cabinet.
This scenario is implemented if there is no possibility of conducting a fibre inside the network. Doubling the capacity of a return and transmission channel is achieved by:
  • Adding a transmission channel transmitter and a return channel receiver in HE
  • Adding a node in the existing cabinet (node 1x1)
  • Using multi-wave solutions in the transmission and return channel with one fibre only
Figures 3 i 4 - Additional extension of the band in the return channel
The non-symmetricity of the band in the transmission and return direction is the weak link of HFC technology. Owing to the application of suitable nodes, we may solve this problem. This scenario involves:
  • Adding a transmission channel transmitter and two return channel receivers in HE
  • Applying 1x2 BETA PRO 60G segmentable nodes
  • Using multi-wave solutions in the transmission and return channel with one fibre only
Figure 5 - Transmission channel segmentation - additional modules in the node .
The second segmentation option is to use segmentable nodes in the transmission and return channel. Unlike in the previous scenario, at the initial stage a network operator invests more in universal equipment, to be developed in the future.
This solution is particularly beneficial if a cable operator has no space in telecommunication cabinets and adding a node would require cabinet reconstruction

Network segmentation - transmission side Depending on the adopted scenario, it is possible to apply various transmission channel transmitters:
  • Multi-wave transmitters in the 1290nm window for distances up to 25 km and 4 wavelengths (Figure 5 a,b)
  • Multi-wave transmitters in the 1550nm window for distances up to 25 km and 16 wavelengths (Figure 5 c)
  • DWDM narrowcast transmitters (Figure 6)
  • 1320nm transmitters for point-point connections
Figure 6 - Additional extension of the band in the return channel
Figure 7 - Fiber Deep architecture

Architektura Fiber Deep VECTOR supports the development of Fiber Deep technology in two basic architectures: N+0 and N+1.
  • N+0 – an active element in this architecture is an optical node with subscribers connected directly thereto. It is a proven solution for smaller areas.
  • N+1 - an architecture featuring an optical node and one amplifier in a cascade. This solution enables a larger area or an additional residential building to be served.

For the N+1 architecture, VECTOR provides cable operators with an automatic network control system i.e.
  • System ANA (Automatic Network Adjustment) (Figure 7). Thanks to using the BP100G optical node and LP42G terminal amplifiers, an installer can configure and, later on, adjust a network section with the ANA system installed. Consequently, the installation work is much quicker, OPEX costs are reduced, the number of visits is lower while the time necessary for the in-site installation of equipment is shorter.

The BETA PRO 100G node features a very high output level, which is essential for the Fiber Deep architecture. This solution is characterised by low energy consumption and is fitted with the best transmission channel receiver on the market, which allows it to work with very low optical levels. Consequently, the costs of this solution are significantly reduced on the station transmitter side.

HFC network reconstruction - how to do it?
Segmentation in the HFC network HFC network segmentation involves the division of present subscriber groups into smaller subgroups, which can be achieved in two ways. The first method involves the addition of a node to the telecommunication cabinet and the division of the group into two smaller ones. In the second method, if there is no space in the cabinet, segmented nodes are used, where a receiver and/or a transmitter can be added physically. Both methods are effective when it is necessary to connect a new optical fibre to a transmitter/receiver or to multiply waves within a single fibre.

Fiber Deep
Fiber Deep is a modern concept of HFC network architecture, where the last active element to a subscriber is an optical node.

Why Fiber Deep:
  • maximizing the return on investment in HFC technology (back office, HE, access infrastructure)
  • network throughput comparable to EPON/GPON
  • lower energy consumption compared to HFC >
  • higher reliability due to the limited number of devices
  • lower OPEX costs owing to the limited number of devices, better signal parameters and the unification of devices in the network

VECTOR offers a broad portfolio of solutions that enable cable operators to increase the capacities of an optical network in a simple and cost-effective manner.



Scheme

Benefits

Strengths of optical system implementations
  • Higher data flow capacity of networks
  • The capacity to implement new services
  • Raising the quality of services

Benefits from implementing optical systems together with VECTOR
  • Comprehensive solutions for various network architectures
  • The broadest range of products for optical network parts available on the market
  • Technology that uses the existing network infrastructure of the operator with the option to apply multi-wave solutions (packing) and to optimize the cost of investments within CAPEX and OPEX
  • Subscriber satisfaction guaranteed, owing to the professional and complete technical support of VECTOR
  • System safety, which comes from the five-year guarantee for elements of station optics
  • Long experience and numerous references

System elements

Elements
  • Optical Node LAMBDA PRO 80G/90G - 1GHz in the transmission channel and up to 200MHz in the return channel; high-quality optical receiver; CWDM and BFG return channel transmitters; optional integrated WDM filter; optical AGC; work with Ingress detection system; remote supply 30-65VAC or local 230VAC + 10%”
  • Optical node BETA PRO 100G - 1GHz in the transmission channel and up to 200MHz in the return channel; 2-active output ports GaN; CTB and CSO 117dBµV; remote supply 30-65VAC or local 230VAC; power consumption <33W; transmitters of the return channel 0 and 3dBm; interruption-free electronic adjustment
  • Optical node BETA PRO 60G - 1GHz in the transmission channel and up to 100MHz in the return channel; 1 active GaAs output of the output port; CTB and CSO 114dBµV; remote supply 30 -65VAC or local 230VAC; power consumption <33W; transmitters of the return channel 3 and 6dBm, CWDM; interruption-free electronic adjustment

References

Implementation of the VECTOR’s BETA PRO 60 optical node by the Belgian CATV operator TELENET


General information:
Company: TELENET
Country: Belgium
http://www.telenet.be
Information about Customer:
TELENET is the largest state provider of broadband cable services in Belgium having 2.4 million HP. The company provides cable TV, Internet and mobile&stationary telephony services mainly for household subscribers in Flanders and Brussels. TELENET also offers services for business subscribers in Belgium and Luxemburg within the frame of its brand Telenet Solutions.
Business situation:
Planning the competitiveness increase of the company’s offer and gaining the advantage on the market, TELENET together with the Belgian SEE Telecom and the VECTOR companies signed in 2008 the contract for the multiyear realization of the PULSAR project. The objective of the project was the bandwidth increase of HFC interactive services, the network capacity increase, the subscriber’s reception improvement and the reduction of power consumption.
Solution proposal:
The VECTOR’s BETA PRO 60 optical node was the solution which perfectly fitted the development program of the Belgian operator. The BETA PRO 60 node was chosen by TELENET as the basis of the Fiber Deep architecture in the future.
"The technical performance (matching RFI/RFP) and the excellent interoperability of the VECTOR node were key factors for choosing for VECTOR offer" ,says Miranda Rombouts, Engineering Program & Project Mgmt. "The BETA PRO 60 will be used as a building block to make the TELENET access network better performing. This all provide a state of the art service to our end-customers."
Why VECTOR?
Telenet says about the key factors which have decided on choosing VECTOR as the provider of the solutions being the basis of the TELENET development: "The technical- and performance- specifications requested by TELENET were completely met. This together with the price/quality balance made that TELENET selected SEE/VECTOR tandem as one of the vendors to extend their access network. VECTOR is a company with high transparency. Production- and test processes are continuously improved and shared with TELENET. We learned that the VECTOR node is stable and easy to integrate into the existing access network."

More references