Residential data services via hybrid fiber-coax local access networks

The deployment of two-way broadband hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) local access networks will enable a wide variety of new communication services for consumers and small businesses. Interactive television, video-on-demand, video telephony, and other services focused on TV and video have attracted much attention. Broadband local access networks also offer compelling data-oriented services that support computers and other devices in homes and small businesses. This paper gives an overview of these new residential data services and applications, the technical challenges involved in their delivery, and architectures and key components of the required networking infrastructure.