Both in case of the renewal of existing facilities or the construction of new buildings fiber-to-the-home (FttH) solutions become more popular, because fiber-optics offer invaluable advantages compared with copper cabling. In contrast to conventional systems fiber requires less space for distribution in buildings due to the smaller diameter. At the same time, the new fiber-optic network offers a unique telecommunications infrastructure with almost unlimited bandwidth. So far, these networks have had only the possibility to transmit  cable TV signals up to 862 MHz. If customers desired satellite TV, the only possibility was to stick to coaxial cables.

At the beginning of every modernization or new installation it has to be decided in which way the tenants or apartment owners should receive the TV signals. Until now, during the network planning it was determined if the signals will be supplied by the cable operator or a community satellite system could be installed. Both approaches have advantages: Cable TV is simply to handle for the end user; satellite TV offers an extended range of TV- and FM channels.
                                                                 
From now on the decision is simple – the offer for the customer combines both. The BKtel RF overlay technology provides in parallel cable TV and satellite TV over one fiber in every housing unit. Now the end user has the freedom of choice.

BKtels RF overlay technology allows inserting next to the optical data signals of a PON or Ethernet PtP-network an additional optical wavelength for conventional television, which is modulated by analog PAL, and / or DVB-C standard (cable television). By adding this optical wavelength, the IP-based data transmission services such as broadband Internet and VoIP network of the FTTH network are not affected.

Powerful for every application
For the additional transmission of the DVB-S signals, BKtel has developed two high-performance optical transmitters being part of the FTTH product series. The direct modulated Fx-DS26 offers a very good price and performance relation, ideal for use in small networks like individual building units. The externally modulated transmitter Fx-ES26 is well-suited for long-distance signal transmission up to 140 km and is thus fits into regional networks. Both transmitters are equipped with an additional input for SAT-IF signals in the range 950 to 2605 MHz so that DVB-S signals can be fed in the optical transmission. Of course, a permanent level monitoring ensures a reliable data transmission.

For the end user the Fiber Surf Series of BKtel are available with a range of customer premises equipment. All units are equipped with the receiver module OCR2209E. The reception of a complete CATV and SAT-IF broadband signal between 47 to 2400 MHz is possible, which can be used by a DVB-C Set Top Box or a DVB-S satellite receiver. Thus, in a FTTH network all television signals which are modulated by established video standards of the cable TV and SAT-TV technology can be used thanks to the RF-overlay technology.

The future has begun
The first applications with this BKtel-technology were build in Basel, Switzerland. Especially this multicultural metropolis requests many channels in different languages. The offer of the TV stations is so far: German, French, Italian, German, Turkish, Spanish and Arabic and different Asian languages. Currently, 40 analog and about 100 DVB-C channels in the CATV-band will broadcast, additional about 500 digital SAT-IF channels for radio, television and HDTV. In total 4 satellites resulting in 16 different bands are used for a unique TV offering.

For the reception of the digital TV and radio programs from all over the world, the tenant of the housing association in Basel needs only a standard digital receiver (DVB-C, DVB-S or a combined DVB-C/DVB-S SetTopBox). The television can also be directly connected by cable to continue to receive analog television. With this constellation it is simple to change for the user. However, the picture quality of digital transmission progamms is far better than PAL standard. The future is HDTV, particularly those HD channels which already can be received via satellite.

The customers who have been connected to this new technology provide generally a positive feedback. The private satellite dishes in these housing are gone – nonetheless a much broader offer with completely free choice by the users is existing.