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Chapter 2Overview of current CATV network p2.8 ConclusionsThe increased need of Internet and broadband services has created an awareness of anddemand for high-speed access at mass-market prices. CATV networks evolved as analternative to satisfy these needs. However, the transition of CATV networks, fromanalogue broadcast unidirectional to a high-speed bi-directional digital medium,requires the reduction of noise and the availability of cable modem technology, whichwill provide bi-directional communication over the shared medium. The introduction offibre links in the cable plant, combined with progress in optical laser technology, hasmade possible the reduction of noise. Cable modem manufacturers first introducedproprietary equipment with limited capabilities in terms of multimedia applications andlow QoS support. Later, with the alliance of influential groups, such as the DVB-DAVIC-ETSI, MCNS-SCTE and IEEE 802.14 - ATM Forum, several cable modemstandards have emerged. However, only the DOCSIS protocol and the DVB/DAVICprotocol achieved the short time standardisation process demanded by Multiple ServiceOperators. Such protocols contribute to a wider acceptance of CATV networks.Telco’s, with its DSL technology, have entered the race for high-speed digital servicesover their point-to-point switched network. Although this technology (from telephonecompanies) is slightly more expensive than cable modem technology, DSL has theadvantage of a dedicated bandwidth for each node/service. Moreover, Fibre To TheCurb/Home is a promising technology, which can achieve very high data transmissionsin the order of 150 Mbps. Unfortunately, this technology is still in its early stages and atthe current time is too expensive for a residential or small business to afford.In the race for supplying multimedia broadband services and high-speed Internet accessto residential customers, CATV networks outdistance the competitors of digitalsubscriber line, fixed-point wireless, and fibre optic to the home systems. The race isongoing and for the foreseeable future it appears likely that cable and DSL technologywill lead the race to the home for supplying television, video on demand, homeshopping, video games, telephony, high quality video telephony, high-speed dataservices, and eventually hundreds of residential applications being envisioned or to beinvented.2-20