TABLE OF CONTENTS The last mile specifies the connection from the local distributor of the signal to the end user or home. Several companies are providing different methods to connect and provide services of voice, data, music, video, and all other communications. They include wired solutions PSTN, cable, and fiber optics, and wireless solutions, fixed wireless, power line, and satellite. Also, many of these technologies are combined to provide new methods of bringing the communications signals to the home, including hybrid fiber/copper, hybrid fiber/coax, and wireless/wired systems.
Many wireless systems in multiple bands compete for the last mile. Methods considered include point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and multipoint-to-multipoint for bringing broadband communications information and provide networking capabilities amongst the end users. The basic requirement for all of these methods is to bring high-speed information to the home and office environments.
There are five methods of bringing information to the home.
telephone wire
coaxial cable
fiber optics
wireless and RF
satellite communications
There also techniques that use a combination of the above technologies for a complete system to provide optimal coverage of both stationary and mobile applications.
Telephone wired systems use copper wire to connect directly from the home to the CO utilizing unshielded twisted pair.
The unshielded twisted pair consists of two wires twisted together to help noise immunity (PSTN or POTS). PSTN has been the only connection in...
