Cost-Efficient Node Splitting of Hybrid Fiber/Coax Networks Using Two Heuristic Techniques

Cable operators offer today triple-play services (internet, video, and telephony) to their customers over Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) networks. As the bandwidth in such an HFC network is shared by a service group of 2000 homes or less, and as the demand for bandwidth for the triple-play services heavily increases, redesign of this network may be needed to enhance the bandwidth per customer. In this short paper, two heuristic methods for reducing the number of homes per service group by moving the fiber closer to the homes at minimum cost are presented. These heuristic methods are investigated for three different areas: urban, suburban, and rural environments. The preliminary results show that nearly equal results are obtained for both heuristic methods and that the highest investment costs are generally obtained for rural areas.