Comparison of Common Broadband Access Methods

With the development of Internet technology, China's broadband penetration is among the world's leading. In recent years, we have been more committed to developing broadband access services, striving to enable more people to install broadband services and enjoy faster Internet speeds. For building broadband communities in China, there are multiple implementation methods, which can be realized through telephone lines, cable TV networks, high-speed Ethernet, all-fiber networks, wireless access, and other solutions. Each of these broadband access methods has its own advantages and disadvantages.

1. ADSL Access Solution
   ADSL uses frequencies above 40kHz for data transmission, while frequencies below 40kHz are still used for voice transmission. Therefore, with ADSL, users can stay connected to the Internet without affecting telephone use. Although ADSL still uses the original telephone lines, the data transmitted via ADSL does not pass through the telephone switch, so ADSL Internet access does not incur additional telephone charges, saving costs. ADSL access can also utilize the existing local telephone network and telephone exchange station facilities, reducing construction and maintenance costs. The disadvantage is that it has high requirements for line quality; when line quality is poor, widespread deployment becomes difficult.

2. HFC Network Solution
   The advantage of using cable modems to build a broadband access network over the HFC network is that the existing HFC network can be utilized, requiring only bidirectional renovation of the coaxial cable network and the use of cable TV station facilities. The disadvantage is that bidirectional renovation of the HFC network is required, and the engineering construction and system commissioning are relatively complex with many unpredictable factors. In addition, investment is needed to establish a maintenance team to ensure the normal operation of the network.
   It is worth noting that the common feature of the HFC solution and the ADSL access solution is that both utilize existing network infrastructure. Their common disadvantages are limited capacity for further bandwidth expansion and the inability to build an independent community internal network platform.

3. High-Speed Ethernet Solution
   Ethernet is currently the most widely used LAN transmission method. It uses baseband transmission and achieves 10M/100M/1Gbps network transmission through twisted pair cables and transmission equipment. It is widely applied and technologically mature. From the initial shared 10Mbps transmission technology over coaxial cable, it has developed to the current 100Mbps or even 1Gbps transmission and switching technologies over twisted pair and fiber. It is certain that Ethernet technology will continue to develop and improve at even higher speeds.
   For already-built communities, adopting the Ethernet community access solution requires re-cabling the data network with structured wiring. This may be unacceptable for users in high-end communities. The 10Base-S solution, however, can utilize the existing telephone wiring system in the community to build a community network, providing full-duplex 10Mbps network speeds. The 10Base-S solution leverages existing telephone lines to simultaneously provide voice, fax, and high-speed data transmission services to users.

4. Fiber Access Solution
   For the current "fiber-to-the-x, copper-retirement" projects, fiber access will inevitably replace transitional broadband access methods such as twisted pair xDSL, Cable Modem based on coaxial cable HFC systems, and broadband wireless access. Optical fiber is the most ideal transmission medium among various transmission media in broadband networks, characterized by large transmission capacity, good transmission quality, low loss, and long repeater spacing. Fiber access networks have multiple forms, the most important being Fiber to the Curb, Fiber to the Building, and Fiber to the Home, commonly known as FTTC, FTTB, and FTTH. Combined with mature campus LAN technology, it provides 10M/100Mbps switched or shared access to the user end.

5. Wireless Access Technology
   Wireless access refers to access technology that partially or fully uses wireless means from the switching node to the user terminal. Wireless access technology can be divided into two major categories: mobile access and fixed access. Its main advantages are that it requires almost no external cable lines and offers rapid and flexible installation. However, in addition to channel interference, there are also issues such as rain attenuation and line-of-sight transmission requirements, and equipment prices are relatively high. Currently, broadband fixed wireless access technology represents a new and non-negligible development trend in broadband access technology. It not only features fast deployment, simple maintenance, and low cost when user density is high, but also changes the traditional concept of local telecommunications services. It is most suitable for new local network competitors to effectively compete with traditional telecom companies and cable TV companies, and can also serve as an important supplement to telecom companies' wired access and achieve due development.

Currently, represented by the rapid expansion of ADSL user scale, continuous improvement of operation and maintenance capabilities, and the continuous emergence of upgrade technologies, various broadband access technologies have taken a major step forward in both technology and application, presenting a pattern of "a hundred flowers blooming and echelon evolution." Due to national policy influences, it is believed that in the near future, the most common broadband access method in China will be fiber access.