Optical Segmentation Technology Alternatives and Architectures

Fiber non-linearity presents serious challenges to fielding multi-wavelength optical systems capable of transporting full broadcast I narrowcast channel loads. Equipment vendors are rising to meet this challenge with new technologies that will allow MSO's to cost effectively segment nodes and harvest fiber for new services or future network segmentation. This paper briefly reviews the key fiber optic challenges that are driving innovation and examine the different technology choices that are being offered today. Then it also looks at a few implementation models of multi-wavelength on the HFC plant for a variety of different applications.