Fiber on Demand™

Aurora's Fiber on Demand (FonD) is a broadband access solution that enables dedicated 100 Mbps bandwidth speeds in the last mile of an access network. The FonD solution is part of Aurora's powerful and versatile FTTx portfolio and is a matured and proven technology. Designed specifically for MSO networks, this node-based access solution uses a point-to-point Fast Ethernet protocol (Metro Ethernet Forum MEF-9 compliant) to provide transparent LAN services to end users. It is targeted for customer segments that require high bandwidth connectivity such as SMB/SME, schools, government campuses, SOHO (Small Office Home Office), telecommuters and high bandwidth residential users. This solution is extremely cost effective and ideal for cable operators who want to offer ultra high bandwidth speeds to their customers without incurring exorbitant capital outlay costs for other alternatives such as DOCSIS^® 3.0.

Intelligent Architecture

One of the main hallmarks of FonD architecture is the ability to leverage existing infrastructure to its fullest potential. Specifically, there are three important bases upon which FonD leverages its advantages as described next.

Building on a Base of Existing Cable Nodes

FonD is based on a node-based access architecture with advantages that include deeper reach and convenient point of presence. Cable nodes pass as many as 80% of businesses in certain metro areas. FonD taps the unused real estate in the cable nodes to service high bandwidth businesses and residential users. And in rural area settings where the population of residences and businesses is sparse, extending fiber to the premises using a cable node is not simply convenient, but very cost effective. Because HFC, Fiber Node or VHub deployments already exist, the capital costs for the few additional overlay components are minimal by comparison.

Building on a Plant of Existing Fiber

Fiber count is an all important resource in any broadband access network. The FonD solution leverages Aurora industry-leading CWDM and DWDM optical components to multiplex as many as 15 CWDM wavelengths on a fiber pair, and as many as 240 Fast Ethernet subscribers can be serviced using a single fiber pair. Because the solution leverages the existing HFC plant (fiber), construction and trenching related costs (which are highest in any network outlay) are kept to a minimum.

Leveraging Existing Bandwidth

FonD does not place any new bandwidth demands on existing HFC or Fiber Deep network architectures. Using Aurora's patented digital return technology, FonD employs embedded Ethernet technology, utilizing the unused portion of a 2.125 Gbps RF return bandwidth. Up to 16 dedicated timeslots of 100 Mbps each can be utilized on a single CWDM wavelength for embedding Ethernet traffic on an existing digitized RF return path.

Figure 1. Interconnections of a Simplified FonD Architecture

Click to enlarge

Component Equipment of a Fiber On Demand System

DS4004U Optical Ethernet Multiplexer

DS4004U Optical Ethernet Multiplexer

Click to enlarge

The DS4004U is designed for installation in a VHub, an NC4000 series optical node platform, or any NH4000 node housing. Each DS4004U module can service up to four Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) connections to individual subscribers using 100FX SFP transceivers in each of its four local ports. The DS4004U also has a 2.125 Gbps optical network port that is connected to a DT4000 series Digital Transceiver module (installed in the same VHub or node) in which upstream Ethernet traffic from the subscribers is embedded in the return stream together with any digitized RF traffic. Alternatively, the DS4004U can utilize its own wavelength (1310 nm, 1550 nm, or CWDM) to transport connections to the headend. A single NH4000 node housing can be configured with up to four DS4004U modules to serve up to 16 100Mbps customers per node, and multiple DS4004Us can be daisy chained for optimizing bandwidth on a single wavelength. More information about the DS4004U is available here.

NI3030E Network Interface Module

NI3030E Network Interface Module

Click to enlarge

In a FonD application, the NI3030E functions as a headend aggregation module that services up to 16 Fast Ethernet connections and is installed in the 3RU CH3000 Chassis. Equipped with 16 RJ-45 Ethernet ports, the NI3030E can interconnect with any industry-standard Ethernet switch or router. Its function is to demultiplex the data stream comprised of the 16 timeslots riding on the 2.125 Gbps link from the HFC side of network and then drop the individual links on to the RJ-45 ports connected to an external Ethernet switch. More information about the NI3030E is available here.

AG3034A Aggregator Module

AG3034A Aggregator Module

Click to enlarge

The AG3034A Aggregator module supports flexible star architectures on a FonD network and is installed in the 3RU CH3000 Chassis at the headend. A 3-way splitting of the 2.125 Gbps pipe can be achieved with this module. The module's optical network port is connected locally to a NI3030E module's network fiber port, while the module's three "local" ports are connected to the network (uplink) 2.125 Gbps ports on remote DS4004U modules in the field. These optical ports can be configured with a variety of SFP transceivers for flexible selection of wavelengths to meet network design needs. More information about the AG3034A is available here.

MC1301U Fast Ethernet Media Converter

MC1301U Fast Ethernet Media Converter

Click to enlarge

The MC1301U Fast Ethernet Media Converter is one of several types of Fast Ethernet media converters available from Aurora that may be used in a FonD application. This CPE device is connected over a single fiber link to one of the 100 Mbps local ports of a remotely located DS4004U module, and is connected to the customer's LAN via its RJ-45 Ethernet port (with standard duplex, speed and auto-negotiation features). More information about the MC1301U (and other media converters) is available here.

Opti-Trace EMS Software

Opti-Trace EMS Software

Click to enlarge

Aurora's EMS is a standards-compliant element management software package that helps provision FonD links in a matter of minutes. It removes all the complexity of internal configuration and presents a very user intuitive GUI interface for quick learning. Aurora EMS saves precious time for headend or field techs unfamiliar with Ethernet or data technologies. Opti-Trace EMS is also a very powerful tool for fault management and diagnostics. An exhaustive alarms library, coupled with frame counters and statistics, lends itself to proactive management of the FonD network. Built on top of standard SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), EMS helps integrate management of FonD solutions using any industry-standard NMS package. More information about EMS and other applications in the Opti-Trace software suite is available here.

Back to top