An Integrated Long-Reach PON and GI-POF In-House Network Architecture for Hybrid CATV/OFDM Signals Transmission

We propose and demonstrate an integrated long- reach passive optical network (PON) and in-house graded-index plastic optical fiber (GI-POF) network architecture for hybrid community antenna television (CATV) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals transmission. By reasonably multiplexing the OFDM and CATV signals into a CATV transmitter, both signals originated from a central office (CO) are successfully transmitted over a span of 60 km single mode fiber (SMF) and another span of 25 m GI-POF to consumers' devices. Although the SMF and GI-POF have different core sizes and attenuation features, no any bridge circuit or wavelength converter is utilized in the proposed architecture resulting in a transparent platform for the Internet service providers (ISPs) to directly manage their long-distance services toward suburban or rural areas. Since the optical signal generated at the CO can be transmitted straightforward to the consumers' devices, the average packet delay and packet overhead size can be greatly reduced and the quality of services (QoS) can be maintained easier. Good experimental performances of the CATV and OFDM signals transmission proof the practice and efficiency of this proposal to extend multimedia services from metro areas to suburban and rural areas.