Hitachi Telecom USA and Pacific Broadband Networks have formed a technology partnership to develop fiber-to-the-premises system for hybrid fiber coax network operators.
The first product from this collaboration, designed and specified by Hitachi, is the Hitachi Node+Zero RFoG (RF over glass) module, a single-fiber FTTP system that leverages existing headend and customer premises infrastructure.
The Node+Zero module, introduced in June 2008, is transparent to existing DOCSIS and CMTS protocols and management systems, and accommodates RF headend and customer premises equipment combinations from virtually any manufacturer, said Hitachi.
RFoG parallels the current hybrid fiber coax evolution to fiber-deep architecture, but extends the fiber optic path to the subscriber’s premises via a passive optical network (PON) outside plant architecture.
PON minimizes operational expense for powering and network balancing, and the combination of RFoG and PON offers a deployment model that allows operators to match network improvements to revenue potential.
Rick Schiavinato, vice president of sales and marketing at Hitachi Telecom, said: This technology alliance combines Hitachi’s long term worldwide leadership in PON technology, dating to 1994, with PBN’s expertise as a manufacturer of equipment for cable TV operators. We are already seeing significant market traction with the Node+Zero RFoG module.
