Overview of

Broadband Technology
Platforms
Chris Moore, Deputy Chief
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Broadband Workshop

Note: The views expressed in this presentation are those

of the author and may not necessarily represent the views
of the Federal Communications Commission
 Overview
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Cable Broadband Service
Fiber
Satellite
Fixed Wireless Service - Licensed
Mobile Wireless Service - Licensed
Wireless Internet Service Providers
(WISPs) - Unlicensed
Broadband Over Power Lines

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Residential Advanced Services Lines
by Technology as of
June 30, 2007

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 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Most commonly used by

local telephone carriers

Variations: ADSL, VDSL

Up to 7 Mbs download;
1 Mbs upload

Distance dependent

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 Cable Broadband Service
Developed for TV
distribution
Evolved to provide
TV/Data/Voice
Up to 15 Mbs
download;
2 Mbs upload
Distance independent
Register w/ FCC

Cable Modem
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Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC)
CATV Network

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 Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON)
Fiber to the Home Architecture

Central Office Passive Outside Plant

Multi-dwelling units
Typically up to 20 km (28 dB)

Edge router
(data, video) 2.5 Gbps @ 1490 nm splitters points
Small/medium
enterprises
1.2 Gbps @ 1310 nm
Optical
Line Terminal (OLT) Optional 1,550 nm to
support local Single family
analog/digital video if homes
Softswitch
(for voice) required
Optical
Network Terminal (ONT)

Source: Fiber to the Home Council

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 Typical GPON Components
Optional Video Coupler for RF Optical Taps
overlay Fiber Splice Closures

Distribution
Cable

Drop
Feeder Cable Cable

Optical Line
Terminal
Outside Plant Splitter Cabinet
Optical Patch Panel

Optical
Network
Terminals
A single fiber, splitters and subs is the “PON”
Optional Video Amplifier

Central Office Passive Outside Plant (OSP) Subscriber Premise

Source: Fiber to the Home Council

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 Satellite
Geos; Non-Geos; Leos

Fixed:
– C-band – 4 & 6 GHz
– V-Sats – 11 & 14 GHz

Mobile Satellite Service

Satellite advantage:
Ubiquitous coverage

Limitation: Foliage, rain,

etc. can affect availability
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 Mobile Satellite Service
Ancillary Terrestrial Component

Satellite provides
ubiquitous coverage,
including rural areas

Terrestrial base
Stations provide
coverage in areas
where satellite signals
may be weak

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 Fixed Wireless Services - Licensed
Traditional fixed point-to-point service: Microwave
signals are aimed along a narrow path using high-
gain antennas.
Requires line-of-sight
Applications: Communications backbones;
studio-transmitter links; cable relay
Origin
Terminus

Signals can be carried over great distances

by relaying them over multiple “hops”.

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 Fixed Wireless Services - Licensed
Examples:

Broadband Radio Service/

Educational Broadband Service

Local Multipoint
Business Distribution Service
Access &
Backhaul

W-Fi

802.11
Wi-Fi
Hotspot
Directly to Backhaul
Indoor Modem
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 Mobile Wireless
Broadband Service
The FCC has created multiple mobile radio services suitable
for broadband:
– Cellular Service
– Specialized Mobile Radio Service (SMRs)
– Personal Communications Service (PCS)
– Advanced Wireless Service (AWS)
– 700 MHz (Recently Auctioned)
Technologies: GSM family; CDMA family; planned WiMAX
Various types of service, with data speeds of up to 2 Mbs
Actual speed depends on several factors
All of the major technologies have developed evolutionary
paths to faster data rates

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 Wireless Internet Service
Providers (WISPs) - Unlicensed
Part 15 of the FCC rules provides for operation
of unlicensed devices
Many kinds of devices
operate under these
low power rules -
Wi-Fi
Various techniques
are used to enable
broadband service
in rural areas Metropolitan, Rural &
Community Networks
Data speeds vary
There are thousands of WISPs operating
on an unlicensed basis around the U.S.

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 Broadband Over Power Lines
High Voltage Medium Voltage Low Voltage
~ MVolts ~ 1kVolts to 40 kVolts
~ 120/240 Volts

LV
Distribution
Coupler Repeater Transformer

Power
Generation
Plant Backhaul
Substation Power Line
Point
(Gateway) Interface Device
Located In Home

Access BPL

Internet
Internet In some Access
implementations,
these physical links
are replaced by
BPL signals are extracted here
Aggregation wireless links
& converted into/from traditional
Point
communication packets for
appropriate communication direction
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 BPL : Bypassing the
Transformer
Low-Voltage
Distribution
Transformer
Medium
Voltage
Coupler

Bridge &
Control
Module
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Conclusion

Thank you!

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