How to Have the Fastest Internet Connections Using Only Cable-TV Networks

Watching an online video, teleworking, or easy access to government services, all these, required high-speed Internet connections. However, existing bandwidths will soon be inadequate, as just one TV programme converted to the digital domain requires about 5 megabit/second (MB/s).

The EUREKA (Belgium) project has resulted in super-fast Internet connections over existing cable TV networks with no need for a consumer modem.

A Dutch-Finnish partnership with funding from EUREKA has developed technology to provide high-speed Internet access through existing copper coaxial cable TV connections without the need for a modem.

Whilst today users can choose between asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) services over the phone or broadband connections over cable TV networks, the VIRTUAL FIBRE project opted for developing baseband technology.

Higher speeds can be provided over phone lines using 56 MB/s VDSL technology- but this is limited to short distances from exchanges. The VIRTUAL FIBRE project set out to boost Internet speeds over the existing copper-based coaxial TV cable connections into the house. The resulting technology offers speeds up to 10 times the one possible with existing cable TV Internet connection. Moreover, it provides Ethernet local area network (LAN) connectivity with no need for a consumer-side modem; users simply plug their personal computers (PC's) into a standard connector on the wall. And, there is no active component; the Ethernet connection is free from interruptions.

A 12-month pilot trial in the Dutch town of Boxmeer demonstrated the success of the Ethernet-to-the-home (EttH) approach, by offering a community of 28,000 residents the choice of TV, telephony and Internet service.

Now, all 28,000 local residents have symmetrical access to the Internet at 10 MB/s, with local businesses able to obtain 50 MB/s symmetrical data connectivity. The technology has subsequently been developed to provide 100 MB/s connectivity and has already been sold to South Korea, demonstrating the global market for such applications.