HybridFiberCoax

HybridFiberCoax, also known as Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC), is a broadband network architecture that combines fiber optic cables with coaxial copper to deliver high‑speed internet, video, and voice services. In an HFC system, high-capacity fiber runs from the service provider’s central office to a distribution point called an optical node, and from the node a coaxial cable network carries signals the remaining distance to individual subscribers. This arrangement leverages the bandwidth and low latency of fiber for the core network while using existing coaxial last mile infrastructure to reach homes and businesses.

Key components of HybridFiberCoax include the headend or central office equipped with a cable modem termination system (CMTS), the optical distribution network (ODN) that feeds multiple nodes, the optical node that converts light to radio frequency signals, and the coaxial feeder that reaches customer premises equipment such as cable modems. Data is transmitted using the DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) standard, which supports multiple data channels on the same network. Newer DOCSIS versions, such as 3.1 and 4.0, employ wider channel bonding and advanced modulation to increase throughput.

Performance on HFC networks depends on plant quality, node spacing, and spectrum management. Modern deployments can provide multi-gigabit downstream speeds and various upstream options, though bandwidth is shared among customers connected to the same node and signal quality degrades with distance and plant condition. HybridFiberCoax is cost-effective for delivering broadband alongside cable television and voice services, and it remains widely deployed while many operators gradually extend fiber deeper toward the network edge.