Capacity analysis of G.fast systems via time-domain simulations

The evolving broadband access systems using copper networks are currently deployed in a frequency band that goes up to 30 MHz, as specified in VDSL2. As hybrid fiber-copper architectures become more important in the industry and academia, using shorter loop lengths (i.e. up to 250 meters) from the last distribution point to users enables adopting even higher frequencies to achieve very high data rates of 500 Mbps and beyond, as is the case with the G.fast standard under development by ITU-T. In this work, a time-domain simulator has been developed to evaluate G.fast system performance. System capacity is evaluated with different cyclic extension lengths and different reference loop topologies specified by ITU-T. The simulation results show that G.fast systems are robust to bridgetaps and capable of providing very high data rates for all simulated loop topologies to support next generation ultra high speed broadband services.