High speed access for broadband multimedia services

Providing access to the “information superhighway” for residential customers will be driven by the demand for new broadband multimedia services. Video-on-demand is considered as the most likely early application. The requirements imposed on the access network are considered in light of recent advances in digital video encoding. A critical review of both copper and fibre technologies has been made. Asymmetrical digital subscriber lines (ADSL) allows the transmission of video services over standard twisted pair copper telephone line, whilst supporting basic telephony services. This provides many advantages for established network operators with a large copper base, but the technology is unproven and does not provide full coverage. Alternative fibre technologies have the capability to provide full coverage, but are expensive and require the installation of new plant. The concept of high speed passive optical networks (PON) allows the central office equipment costs and high bandwidth to be shared amongst many subscribers, potentially offering an economic network solution, allowing an evolution to the support of yet undefined future broadband services