Fibre backbone for cable TV using multi‐channel am video trunking

This paper updates a scenario for the evolutionary integration of optical fibre transmission technology into existing cable television networks first presented in 1988. The resulting ‘fibre backbone’ yields a hybrid fibre/coaxial network with significantly better reliability and transmission quality than present systems. System and electro‐optical component advances in the last year are reviewed, and the merits of various modulation techniques are examined. The fibre backbone approach emphasizes continuing the broadband delivery of a large number of video signals to the consumer.