Dutch cable operator Rekam expands RFoG network

Dutch cable-TV provider Rekam is using equipment from Pacific Broadband Networks BV to expand its network in Lekkerkerk, The Netherlands, a city east of Rotterdam. Rekam is building a fiber-optic network based on RF over glass (RFoG) that will pass every house in Lekkerkerk, and expects to connect several thousand customers annually.

Rekam says it selected PBN, which is represented in the Netherlands by Hemmink, as the partner for this initial project in 2012. Construction was able to start immediately. Rekam has now given Hemmink and PBN a recurring order for further expansion of its network.

RFoG was developed to enable cable operators to use fiber-optic cable as a transport medium in a way that is compatible with RF transmission and their operating systems, such as DOCSIS. The optical fiber, therefore, can transport the same signals/services used within Rekam’s existing coax network, including DOCSIS 3.0 services. All metering cabinets in the houses are fed with fiber and terminated with RFoG units from PBN. The RFoG concept has been rolled out in other parts of Rekam’s network as well.

Peter Oskam, technical advisor for Stichting Rekam said, “Within this project both active and passive components were required. For the active part of the network, headend and ONU, you need to choose one supplier. The components need to work seamlessly together and using different vendors can cause compatibility issues. It is therefore also a very important choice and decision which you cannot easily change. In our case we selected the solution form PBN, which is represented in The Netherlands by Hemmink. Both have been involved in developing our network concept and have delivered a detailed network concept for Rekam.”

Rekam says it will stick to the RFoG concept for now, but the company is also looking at the possibilities of a pure IP-based network. “The first important thing is to get all the fiber installed in the electricity closet in each house. By choosing RFoG as an intermediate solution we are able to offer our standard services with the same low cost, which is in benefit of our customers and us,” explained Oskam.

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