Subcarrier multiplexed lightwave networks for broadband distribution

Two approaches are analyzed for building low-cost subscriber distribution networks which serve many subscribers from a single transmitter and feeder. In a completely passive optical network, it is shown that 16 to 32 subscribers can be served from a single feeder. In a second approach using optical amplifiers, it is shown that several stages of amplification can be used, and that 16 to 32 subscribers can be served from each amplifier in the final stage. These results show that subcarrier multiplexing techniques (SCM) are very attractive for low-cost broadband subscriber networks. SCM enables the distribution network to combine the advantages of low-cost FM video electronics with the advantages of the passive optical network approach to subscriber distribution