Broadband access solutions on a common CWDM platform

In this paper the authors present the latest results of the MUSE project with respect to highbandwidth optical access. The project partners represented by the authors have developed three different optical access solutions during the project period. First, a hierarchical coarse wavelength division multiplex (CWDM) based ring network, which not only provides high-bandwidth FttX connectivity, but also acts as integrating feeder network for other First Mile Access technologies like those described thereafter. The system, comprising a 10 km feeder area ring (FAR) carrying CWDM signals and a bandwidth-sharing distribution area ring (DAR) is able to provide protected connectivity to about 1800 end-users. Second, an analogue very high bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) over optics system, which transmits VDSL signals over an optical carrier by means of sub-carrier multiplexing. Transmission of DSL signals over optical fibre is a potential method for extending the range of high bandwidth DSL signals, such as VDSL, far beyond that possible in copper. The VDSL over optics (VDSLoO) system is capable of carrying multiple channels between Optical Line Termination (OLT) and Optical network Unit (ONU). Third, a system concept for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which is based on a Radio over Fibre (RoF) system using the Optical Frequency Multiplication (OFM) method. The system is bi-directional and supports a wide range of radio frequencies (RF) over optical links due to the dispersion-tolerant OFM technique. With OFM, extremely pure microwave carriers can be realised, allowing comprehensive modulation schemes. All three systems have been tested and characterized using a common set-up, where the CWDM FAR acts as transport platform for three different distribution systems running on separate wavelengths. A block diagram of the lab set-up and the important results of this specific trial are presented in this paper.