Architecture of Broad-Band Communications Systems

At present there are worldwide efforts directed towards a services-integrated broad-band network. The first section of this paper describes different solutions of broad-band network components such as subscriber premises networks, local loops, subscriber exchanges, and trunk networks. The design of these components was taken from various proposals and broad-band communication field trials carried out in several countries up to 1984. In the second section, we consider the possibilities and implications of integrated optical components and of optical coherent communication techniques for broad-band networks in the far future.