Author
James Donovan
Consumers are accessing the Internet in various ways. In my previous blog, I showcased three basic broadband technologies consumers are using—DSL, satellite and wireless. Each have positives and negatives, but for some of them, it depends on location and the operator’s reach.
In this blog, I will provide you with the final three technology choices for deploying broadband services to the end customer—G.fast, DOCSIS and optical fiber.
G.fast – New Kid on the Copper Block
G.fast is an access technology developed to extend the life of copper beyond a Gigabit. This technology targets brownfield deployments as a fiber alternative that re-uses existing copper infrastructure in homes and other buildings.
Advantages
- It is an alternative to the higher cost and slower rollout of fiber in brownfield scenarios
- It requires relatively quick rollout and return on investment
Disadvantages
- Distances are limited; G.fast equipment must reside close to the end user to produce a Gigabit of bandwidth
- Crosstalk affects performance; without vectoring noise cancellation, G.fast rates are severely degraded
Still, achieving Gigabit speeds makes G.fast a viable technology for service providers seeking higher bandwidth delivery in brownfield situations.
DOCSIS® – Positioned to Compete
DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) is an international telecom standard used by many cable television operators to provide high-speed data or Internet services over existing hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) infrastructures. Similar to the DSL, fiber is run to a node where the signal is transferred from the fiber to coaxial cable and extended to the customer in a direct line to the home.
Advantages
- With release of a Gigabit standard for DOCSIS, this technology meets present day bandwidth requirements
- In some parts of the world, it is less susceptible to damage from natural disasters, as nodes are located above ground on power poles
Disadvantages
- A power source is required within the outside plant
- It remains a copper-based technology with the ultimate bandwidth limitations that implies
With the popularity of premium cable television and bundled video, data and phone services, DOCSIS should continue to enable cable television providers to remain competitive for as long as it can meet rising bandwidth requirements.
Optical Fiber – Bandwidth Potentially Unlimited
Optical fiber is still superior in its ability to deliver near-limitless bandwidth. Properly designed, once the service provider deploys optical fiber, bandwidth capacity is likely sufficient for the next hundred years. This makes fiber the best choice for greenfield applications, but also a huge consideration in many brownfield situations where current technologies are approaching bandwidth limitations.
Advantages
- No power requirements are needed between the central office and the end user
- It has virtually “limitless” bandwidth potential -- only capped by architecture chosen and that architecture’s ability to migrate to newer optical technologies
- High reliability
- Easy migration path for equipment and technology upgrades
Disadvantages
- Higher costs associated with brownfield deployment
- Longer roll-out times
- Slower returns on investment
- Challenges with reaching scattered or rural populations
No matter the deployment or connectivity, CommScope offers a breadth of solutions to solve any operator’s broadband needs. The demand for bandwidth increases every day and operators know they must continue to provide the speeds and reliability their subscribers have come to expect.
SEE MORE: There’s No Limit to What Fiber Can Do
