Emcore Corp of Alhambra, CA, USA - which designs and manufactures indium phosphide (InP)-based optical chips, components, subsystems and systems for the broadband and specialty fiber-optics markets - has been awarded a $4.7m purchase order to supply RFoG optical networking units (ONU) to a major US supplier of network infrastructure solutions for the cable TV market. The products are expected to be shipped over the next year.
RFoG (Radio Frequency over Glass) technology extends hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks deeper into neighborhoods to handle increasing user bandwidth demand. Emcore's RFoG ONU supports 1610nm burst-mode analog return-path conversion for triple-play voice, video and data signals in single-family and multi-dwelling unit applications. It resides at the customer's location and provides the interface between the optical network and the subscriber coaxial network.
Emcore's RFoG ONU is designed to support standard CATV downstream and upstream transmission bands. Downstream it receives a 1550nm forward-path optical signal carrying an RF cable TV spectrum up to 1.0GHz, making it compatible with the cable industry's DOCSIS 3.0 standard. For return path it supports digital or QAM upstream transmission utilizing a burst-mode DFB transmitter that operates at 1610nm and supports a 5-42MHz spectrum. The RFoG ONU is compliant with the SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers) RF-over-Glass specification.
"Our CATV broadband transport and access products are ideal for network systems providers that demand the highest-quality, economical delivery of high- and ultra-high-definition video and audio, along with the highest-bandwidth data transmission for their customers," says president & CEO Jeffrey Rittichier.