Broadband communication is a type of telecommunication that supplies multiple channels of data in single communications platform using some form of wave or frequency division multiplexing. In other words, broadband refers to the telecommunication in which a wide band of frequencies are available to transmit data. To receive broadband services you must have broadband access, and broadband access is the major issue for allowing new applications to be utilized. Broadband offers a new brand of services where data, voice, and video commonly known as multimedia can be delivered together as one packet. Some of the networks that are available for providing these types of services are Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), frame relay, and leased lines. These networks are instrumental in supplying customers with broadband services and potentially overtaking the traditional dial-up Internet. Broadband communication systems distribute broadband services on the transmit end and also allow access to the services transmitted by the broadband provider on the receive end.

Existing cable HFC structured TV networks with their high-capacity forward and return path, provide an excellent multi-medial platform. New services, such as high-speed internet access, video-on-demand or telephony, have created an added value to the older, and more conventional networks just providing transmission of TV and radio signals.

Progressive provider companies are already planning the restructuring or re-development of their networks towards a Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH) structure. By providing every subscriber with FttH service, these modern providers are about to put networks into practise which will stand for a safe long-term investment for the future with high bandwidths and high data speed delivered directly to the home.

Kathrein’s wide product range allows us to offer the perfect solution:

• Optical transmitting and receiving systems
• Modular optical compact receivers with broadband forward and return paths and monitoring
• Compact amplifiers in all performance categories
• House and building network interfaces
• House connection amplifiers - monitoring possible
• Cable modems and cable modem termination systems (CMTS)
• Optical and electrical network termination units

A) Video signals
In a headend station TV and radio programs are received from satellite, terrestrial transmitters or other sources. The programs that should be distributed to the customers are than processed in analogue or digital format (QAM or IPTV) and are available in the frequency range from 65 to 862 MHz.

B) Data signals
IP-Data like Internet access, Voice (VoIP) or IP-TV are delivered from data providers also to the headend of the network. The IP-data will be modulated with a CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) in either a 6 MHz (Docsis) or 8MHz (Euro Docsis) channel in the same frequency range used by the video signals described above.