GB2511415A

GB2511415A - Method of providing broadband connection

Info

Publication number: GB2511415A
Application number: GB1400510.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Shepherdson
Original assignee: KCOM GROUP PLC
Current assignee: KCOM GROUP PLC
Priority date: 2013-01-14
Filing date: 2014-01-13
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Also published as: GB201400510D0; GB201300627D0

Abstract

The application is concerned with providing a broadband connection to a subscriber at a remote location 10 such as a farmhouse or hamlet. A new branch fibre 14 is laid between an existing main fibre 12 and copper wiring 11 which connects the subscriber to an existing network. The main fibre runs along the side of a main road 13. The copper wiring is cut at the point where it is met by the branch fibre and a junction point 16 is located within a waterproof underground chamber. The underground chamber houses an opto-electric converter, which may include a DSLAM. The junction point must be sufficiently close to the subscriber location 10 to permit satisfactory broadband communication over the legacy copper drop cable 11a, e.g. less than 3Km from the subscriber. The branch fibre is preferably buried in the ground alongside a minor road. A single junction point may be connected to multiple sets of copper wiring, each serving a different subscriber.

Description

METHOD OF PROVIDING BROADBAND CONNECTION

This invention relates to a method of providing a broadband connection to a location which is already connected to a telephone network via an electrically conductive (copper) telecommunication line. The method may have a particular use in the provision of a broadband connection to a remote location, e.g. a remote farmhouse or hamlet.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

The traditional means of providing telecommunication services to users has been to connect users with a telephone network via electrically conductive lines usually composed of copper wiring. However, in recent years, some copper wiring has been replaced by fibre optic cables, which are used to transmit optical signals derived from input signals provided by TV stations, telephone networks and broadband services. There are considerable advantages in use of optical signals, over electrical signals, and particularly when applied to broadband services. It is a well known drawback of copper wiring to convey broadband that signal strength losses increase very considerably with distance, and typically a copper line will fail to deliver above 2 mbps when it reaches more than 5.5 km in length.

Traditionally, fibre optic cables have been run alongside major highways and roads to link telephone exchanges (trunk network) and to provide fibre delivered services most of the way via active street cabinets, though with the so-called "final mile" to the users being via electrically conductive cable. This has worked well in supply of telephone and other services to users in cities and large towns. Further, for some large users the fibre optic cable may run right into the building e.g. an office block.

An electro-optic converter must be provided at both the input to, and the output from a fibre optic system, so that an initial electrical supply signal from the service provider is first converted into optical signals which run the length of the cable, and without any significant loss of signal integrity regardless of length, and then are converted back into electrical signals at the connection of the cable to electrically conductive line running to the user.

This can usually be done economically to users in densely populated areas, but to date it is not believed that this could be done simply and economically to small communities in rural areas. These are sometimes referred to as "not spots" which are areas where broadband is not available above 2 mbps, and in some cases not available at all. Most not spot areas in any network are in rural areas and often the underground cable for the "final mile" is buried with no protective duct. To replace this with optic fibre for each customer would be prohibitively expensive and grossly uneconomic.

In addition, it may not be desirable to employ this method to provide telecommunication services to users in dèr àin4énsé1j,àjulated areas, as the disruptióh caused by the installation work may be prohibitive. For example, in urban city-centre areas with significant traffic volumes, the work may require the digging-up of roads, with resultant disruption to the flow of traffic.

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to enable the supply of broadband economically at acceptable speed and quality to customers in locations presently provided with telecommunication via electrically conductive cable.

According to the invention there is provided a method of providing broadband connection to a location which is already connected to a telephone network via an existing electrically conductive line, the broadband connection being derived from a main existing fibre optic cable running alongside a highway, in which the method comprises: running a branch fibre optic cable from a connection to the main cable to a junction point in a cable chamber close to the location; installing an optical-electrical converter at said junction point and which has an optical input connected to the branch cable, the converter being operative to convert input optical signals into electrical signals delivered to an output of the converter; cutting the existing electrically conductive telecommunication line at or near said junction point, leaving in situ a short length of line running to the location; and connecting the short length of line to the output of the converter.

The location (or "user location") in question may be a remote location, such as a remote farmhouse, but could equally be an urban location. Such locations may not be susceptible to the installation of fibre-optic cable following the prior method described above, for economic reasons arid/or reasons of disruption to traffic flow.

The optical-electrical converter is preferably a MSAN (Multi Service Access Node), and which is a fibre delivered DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) which provides broadband and also voice over fibre unit all in one.

Preferably, the branch line is buried alongside a minor road running from the highway to the location, and the junction point is provided in the cable chamber below ground near to the user location. This facilitates easy access e.g. for maintenance purposes.

The converter preferably takes the form of a protective housing or "tub" (in which the components of the converter are mounted in watertight manner), and which is installed below ground at the junction point.

Thus, by means of the invention, a broadband connection can easily and economically be supplied (via the branch optic cable) from an existing fibre optic cable on a main highway to any suitable junction point near to the location, upon connection of the converter to the branch cable and to the short length of in situ cable running to the location (which in the case of a remote location may be a farmhouse etc.).

The invention therefore enables existing users of telecommunication services to be supplied with broadband services simply and economically, derived from the nearest available fibre optic cable on a main highway.

The method of the present invention addresses the problems associated with conventional techniques for providing a broadband connection e.g. to a remote location, by making use of the existing electrically conductive line extending into a building or the like at the location in question. This may avoid a requirement to excavate the ground in the immediate vicinity of the building, in order to lay a fibre optic cable all the way into the building. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, it is this part of the prior technique which particularly adds to the cost associated with providing a broadband connection to a location, especially in terms of: meeting necessary planning requirements; restricting damage to decorative features such as existing paved driveways, boundary walls and/or gardens; making good after the excavation has been completed; and avoiding damage to existing utilities such as water, gas and power conduits.

Reference is made herein to the provision of a broadband connection to a remote location'.

It will be understood that such references should be taken to mean a location in which it would be prohibitively expensive to replace the existing electrically conductive line with fibre optic cable.

The method involves running the branch fibre optic cable from the connection on the main fibre optic cable to the junction point which is close to the location in question. It will be understood that the junction point will typically be at a position which is closer to the location than the main fibre optic cable. Such may be taken in a pure geographical sense, along straight lines extending from the location to the junction point, and from the location to the connection on the main fibre optic cable; and/or taken along the route of highways or the like which the electrically conductive line/branch fibre optic cable may follow. Reference to the junction point being close to the location in question should be interpreted accordingly.

The method involves cutting the existing electrically conductive telecommunication line leaving a short length of the line in situ. This may involve cutting the line at a position along its length, leaving in situ a portion of the existing line which runs from the cut to the location.

Reference to the leaving in situ of a short length of the line should be interpreted accordingly.

The method may comprise selecting a position for the junction point/cable chamber which is no more than around 3Km from the location. Positioning the junction point/cable chamber at no more than this distance from the location has the consequence that the length of existing electrically conductive line employed to convey signals to the location is sufficiently small as to ensure that adequate broadband connection speeds are provided. In particular, restricting the portion of the line remaining to such a length may facilitate provision of a broadband connection having a signal strength of at least around 10mbps. It may be preferable to position the junction point/cable chamber no more than around SOOm from the location. This may facilitate provision of a broadband connection having a signal strength of at least around 22 mbps. This arrangement may also enable Super Fast' Broadband speeds using VDSL technology, i.e. around 25mbps -76mbps.

The method may comprise: installing an optical-electrical converter at said junction point which is operative to deliver electrical signals to a plurality of outputs of the converter; cutting a plurality of existing electrically conductive telecommunication lines at or s near said junction point, leaving in situ a plurality of short lengths of line running to the location; and connecting the short lengths of line to respective outputs of the converter.

Each short length of line may extend from the converter into a separate building, or to separate points or parts of a common building, at the location, In this way, the method may be employed to provide a broadband connection to a plurality of buildings at the location in question (such as different premises, or different buildings in a single premises); or to a plurality of points or parts of a common building (such as different rooms in a building at the location). It will be understood that signals which are to be transmitted along the short lengths of electrically conductive telecommunication lines are passed to the junction point along the branch fibre optic cable, and thus that a single branch fibre optic cable can be employed to serve multiple users or user locations.

The invention is also concerned with the novel combinations of components disclosed herein for use in the method.

Preferred means of carrying examples of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating one example of a method of carrying out the invention, in relation to the provision of a broadband connection to a remote location; Fig.2 is a perspective illustration of the internal components of an optical-electrical converter for installation in a buried junction point, to connect a branch line fibre optic cable to an existing electrically conductive line leading to a telecommunication user; Fig.3 is a further illustration of the converter in its protective housing and mounted within a cable chamber; Fig. 4 is a is a diagrammatic plan view, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating another example of a method of carrying out the invention, in relation to the provision of a broadband connection to a remote location; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating another example of a method of carrying out the invention, in relation to the provision of a broadband connection to an urban location.

Referring first to Fig.l, this is a diagrammatic illustration of a method of providing a broadband connection (or an improved broadband connection) to location 10 which is presently connected to a telecommunication network (not shown) via an electrically conductive cable 11, 1 la, typically composed of copper wires. In this example, the location is a remote location, in the form of farm 10, However and as will be described below, the method can equally be applied to other locations including urban locations. The broadband connection is derived from a main existing fibre optic cable 12 running alongside a main highway 13.

The method of converting the system to provide broadband/improved broadband to the farm involves running a branch fibre optic cable 14 from a connection 15 to the main cable 12 to ajunction point 16 close to the farm 10. An optical-electrical converter 17 (see Figs 2 and 3) is installed at the junction point 16 and has an optical input 18 connected to the branch cable 14, and which is operative to convert optical signals delivered along the cable 14 into electrical signals delivered to an output 19 of the converter 17. The converter 17 is an MSAN and which is a fibre delivered DSLAM which provides broadband and also voice over fibre unit all in one.

To complete the conversion of the supply system to the farm 10, the existing electrically conductive cable 11,1 la is cut at or near the junction point 16, leaving effective the short length I lain situ available to deliver broadband to the farm after connection of the cut end of length 1 la to output 19 of converter 17.

The branch line cable 14 is preferably buried in protective ducting alongside a minor road 20 running from the main highway 13 to the farm 10, and the junction point 16 is dug into the ground at any convenient position close to the farm and so as to be able to unite the output end of the cable 14 to the short length 1 la via the converter 17.

One practical embodiment of optical-electrical converter 17 (MSAN) for use in the method is shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3. In particular, the converter 17 is housed within an airtight container suitable for underground installation and which could be adapted to house a DSLAM. This is referred to as a "tub", and is effectively "fibre to the node" with the node being underground. The mode of deployment of the tub enables the tubs to be located close to power feeds and close to existing fibre cables; both of these factors contribute to drastic reduction in overall costs of the system modification. There are also no contentious issues with regard to planning regulations, or visual appearance. The tubs can be located close to small communities without objection, and capable of delivering close to 24 mbps ADSL and Super-fast Broadband VDSL.

The method may comprise selecting a position for the junction point 16 which is no more than around 3Km from the farm 10. Positioning the junction point 16 at no more than this distance from the farm 10 has the consequence that the length of existing electrically conductive line 11 a employed to convey signals to the farm is sufficiently small as to ensure that adequate broadband connection speeds are provided. In particular, restricting the portion of the line 1 la remaining to such a length may facilitate provision of a broadband connection having a signal strength of at least around 10mbps. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the junction point 16 is positioned no more than 800m from the farm 10. This may facilitate provision of a broadband connection having a signal strength of at least around 22 mbps, and may facilitate Super Fast' Broadband speeds if required i.e. around 25mbps -76mbps.

A variation on the method discussed above may involve supplying a broadband connection to separate buildings, or to separate points or parts of a common building, at a remote location.

This is illustrated in Fig. 4, which is a view similar to Fig. 1, again showing the farm 10 and the components employed in providing a broadband connection to the farm 10. These components have the same reference numerals described above and shown in Figs. Ito 3, In this embodiment, however, a further farm 100 at the remote location is to be provided with a broadband connection, following a similar method to that described above.

In more detail, the method in this example comprises installing an optical-electrical converter 117 at the junction point 16, which is operative to deliver electrical signals to a plurality of outputs 19, 119 of the converter. The existing electrically conductive telecoimnunication line 11 extends to the farm 10, whilst a similar line 111 extends to the farm 100. The line 11 is cut following the method described above, and the short length I la of the electrically conductive line is connected to the output 19 of the converter 117. The line Ill is cut in a similar way, so that a short length lila remains, extending to the farm 100. This short length ill a is then connected to the output 119 of the converter 117. The short lengths of line 11 a and lila thus extend from the converter 117 into the respective, separate farms 10 and 100, to provide separate broadband connections into the two farms. It will be understood that signals which are to be transmitted along the short lengths 1 la and lila of electrically conductive telecommunication lines are passed to the junction point 16 along the branch fibre optic cable 14, and thus that a single branch fibre optic cable can be employed to serve multiple users or user locations.

It will therefore be understood that the method of the present invention may be employed to provide a broadband connection to a plurality of buildings at a particular location (such as the different farms 10 and 100, or to different buildings in a single premises). The method of the present invention may also be employed to provide a broadband connection to a plurality of locations in a common building (such as different rooms in the farm or farms 10, 100).

Turning now to Fig. 5, there is shown a diagrammatic illustration of a method of providing a broadband connection (or improved broadband connection) to another location, which in this case is an urban location 200. The components employed in providing a broadband connection to the urban location 200 are common to those shown and described in Figs. 1 to 3, and share the same reference numerals, incremented by 200.

The urban location 200 may be a built-up city centre area comprising main highways 213, 22 and a number of side roads 24, 26 and 28. A number of buildings such as apartment or office blocks 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 are shown. The volume of traffic on the roads 213 and 22 to 28 may be such that the provision of telecommunication services employing the conventional method shown and described above may be undesirable, due to the disruption that would be caused in digging up the roads to lay cable.

The method of the present invention has a utility in the provision of telecommunication services to such urban locations, employing existing electrically conductive cable. By way of example, the apartment or office blocks 30 and 32 are connected to a telecommunication network (not shown) via electrically conductive cable 211, 211 a and 21 lb. The broadband connection is again derived from a main existing fibre optic cable 212 running alongside the main highway 213.

Once again, the method involves running a branch fibre optic cable 214 from a connection 215 to the main cable 212, to ajunction point 216 close to the location 200, in this case close to the apartment or office blocks 30 and 32. An optical-electrical converter 217 is installed at the junction point. The existing electrically conductive cables 211, 211 a and 211 b are cut at or near the junction point 216, leaving the short lengths 21 la and 21 lb in situ. Typically, the existing electrically conductive cables 211,21 Ia and 21 lb will have been provided within protective ducting (not shown) known as an armoured sheath, and installing the converter 217 will require cutting of the ducting. Following cutting, the short lengths 21 la and 21 lb are coupled to respective outputs 218 and 219 of the converter 217 to provide connection with the main fibre optic cable 212.

It will be understood that one or more of the other office or apartment blocks 34 to 38 may be similarly coupled to the connector 217, and indeed that multiple users or multiple user locations within each block 30 to 38 may be coupled to the connector 217. In this way, telecommunication services may be provided to multiple users or user locations via a single connector 217.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of providing broadband connection to a location (10) which is already connected to a telecommunication network via an existing electrically conductive cable (11, 1 Ia), the broadband connection being derived from a main existing fibre optic cable (12) running alongside a highway (13), in which the method comprises: running a branch fibre optic cable (14) from a connection (15) to the main cable (12) to ajunction point (16) in a cable chamber close to the location (10); installing an optical-electrical converter (17) at the junction point (16) and which has an optical input (18) connected to the branch cable (14), the converter (17) being operative to convert input optical signals into electrical signals delivered to an output (19) of the converter (17); cutting the existing electrically conductive line at or near said junction point (16), leaving in situ a short length (1 Ia) of cable running to the location (10); and connecting the short length (1 la) to the output (19) of the converter (17).
2. A method according to claim 1, in which the branch line (14)is buried alongside a minor road running from the highway (13) to the location (10), and the junction point (16) is provided at a convenient location below ground near to the user location (10).
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the converter (17) takes the form of a protective watertight housing in which the components are housed.
4. A method according to any one of claims ito 3, in which the converter (17) is a MSAN which is a fibre delivered DSLAM which provides broadband and also voice over unit all in one.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising selecting a position for the junction point which is no more than around 3Km from the location.
6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising selecting a position for the junction point which is no more than around 800m from the location.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising: installing an optical-electrical converter at said junction point which is operative to deliver electrical signals to a plurality of outputs of the converter; cutting a plurality of existing electrically conductive telecommunication lines at or near said junction point, leaving in situ a plurality of short lengths of line running to the location; and connecting the short lengths of line to respective outputs of the converter.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein each short length of line extends from the converter into a separate building at the location.
9, A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein each short length of line extends from the converter to separate positions in a common building at the location.
10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the location is a remote location.
11. A novel combination of the components disclosed herein, for use in the method of any one of claims Ito 10.
12. A method of providing broadband connection to a location (10) which is already connected to a telecommunication network via an existing electrically conductive cable substantially as shown and described herein.