Down to Earth: Optical Fiber Digital Television Networks

Grant F. Lenahan

This paper will describe the features, capabilities, and networking operation of a new television network service capability conceived by the Digital Radio, Video, and Audio District at Bellcore. Although trialed in the national network broadcast market, this service capability has many features which make it particularly suitable for more localized applications such as studio production and distribution. — This network technology as trialed is based on existing digital fiber optic transmission, customer controlled multicast switching, and adherence to Bellcore Technical Advisories and proposed industry standards. It provides networking and flexibility which are at least competitive with satellite technology, and for statewide or regional networks, offers significant potential advantages. — Terrestrial fiber optic transmission networks offer several advantages over competing technologies such as satellite or analog copper wire systems. First, privacy and program security are an inherent advantage of glass-media transmission over copper-based or, particularly, satellite systems. Second, digital transmission guarantees a consistent level of quality, regardless of weather, transmission distance, or atmospheric noise. These advantages, coupled with the scarcity of current satellite launch capability suggest that there is a need for a complementary technology to satellites for those applications where these features are desirable. — An ongoing technology trial with all five national television broadcast networks is demonstrating the feasibility of this technology today. Not only has the technical capability been demonstrated, but all the equipment used in the trial is now commercially available from the independent manufacturing community, making this capability a potential commercial reality. We encourage all vendors and potential users to learn more about the networking capability which has resulted from the success of the National Digital Video Trial. — For more information on the technology and capabilities of this network technology, the author suggests the following paper:

Print ISSN
Published
1990-01
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J16801