For years, broadband upgrades have been almost synonymous with one word: fiber.
Fiber is an important part of modern broadband networks, but getting faster service to subscribers doesn’t always require replacing the infrastructure already inside a building, community or property. In many environments, the existing coaxial network can become a valuable part of the broadband architecture.
With modern MoCA Access technology, operators can use existing coax to extend high-speed broadband services while reducing the construction, rewiring, disruption and expense associated with a complete fiber overbuild.
So, how much performance can you actually get from coax?
With OptiConn AV’s Fi-Speed solution, the answer may surprise you: symmetrical speeds up to 2.5 Gbps over existing coax infrastructure.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions operators, property owners and network professionals have about broadband over coax.
Can coax support gigabit internet?
Yes.
Modern MoCA Access technology is dramatically different from the coax-based broadband technologies many people associate with legacy networks.
OptiConn AV’s Fi-Speed solution supports up to 2.5 Gbps symmetrical broadband over existing coax, allowing operators to leverage infrastructure already installed throughout MDUs, hotels, campuses and other properties.
Instead of assuming that coax needs to be removed and replaced, operators can evaluate whether it can serve as the final connection between fiber infrastructure and individual subscriber locations.
That can turn an existing cable plant from a perceived limitation into a valuable network asset.
Can coax deliver symmetrical speeds?
Yes.
Fi-Speed supports symmetrical 2.5 Gbps service, meaning the network can provide high-speed performance in both the downstream and upstream directions.
That’s increasingly important as broadband usage changes.
Video conferencing, cloud applications, remote work, content creation, security systems and other connected applications are creating greater demand for upstream bandwidth. Broadband performance is no longer just about how quickly users can download content.
For operators serving modern residential, hospitality, commercial or campus environments, symmetrical connectivity can provide a much better foundation for today’s applications.
How far can broadband travel over existing coax?
Under the network conditions outlined for Fi-Speed, broadband can be delivered over coax at distances of up to approximately 300 yards to achieve maximum speeds.
Actual network performance will depend on the condition and configuration of the existing coax plant, which is why evaluating the infrastructure is an important part of deployment planning.
But the ability to extend multi-gigabit connectivity hundreds of yards over existing cable can create significant opportunities in properties where pulling new fiber to every endpoint would otherwise require substantial construction.
How many subscribers can one Micronode support?
Fi-Speed is designed with multi-subscriber environments in mind.
A single branch can support up to 31 CNUs (Coax Network Units), with a Micronode architecture capable of serving up to 124 homes, depending on the network configuration.
That scalability makes the technology particularly relevant for applications such as:
- Multifamily residential communities
- Hotels and hospitality properties
- College and university campuses
- Senior living communities
- Mixed-use developments
- Other existing properties with established coax infrastructure
Rather than treating each subscriber connection as a new construction project, operators can use the existing coax distribution network to extend broadband throughout the property.
Can existing coax splitters be used?
In many cases, yes, although the existing coax network should be evaluated as part of the deployment.
One of the advantages of MoCA Access is its ability to work with coaxial infrastructure already installed in a property. That can include portions of the existing distribution architecture rather than requiring an entirely new physical network.
The condition, frequency range and configuration of splitters and other passive components still matter. A network assessment can identify which components can remain and whether any need to be upgraded or replaced.
The goal isn’t necessarily to replace the coax network.
It’s to make better use of it.
Can broadband and television coexist on the same coax?
Yes. Fi-Speed is designed so broadband connectivity can coexist with traditional television services and DOCSIS 3.0 on the existing coax network.
This can be especially valuable in environments such as MDUs and hospitality properties, where coax may already be supporting television services throughout the building.
Instead of removing an existing service or installing an entirely separate cable infrastructure, operators can potentially introduce higher-speed broadband while continuing to use the coax plant for other services.
That ability to coexist helps reduce disruption for both property owners and subscribers.
What's the difference between MoCA Access and DOCSIS?
Both technologies can deliver broadband over coax, but they are designed around different network architectures and deployment strategies.
DOCSIS has traditionally been associated with cable operator networks and shared broadband delivery over hybrid fiber-coax infrastructure.
MoCA Access is designed to extend Ethernet-based broadband over existing coax, making it particularly useful for the final portion of the network inside existing properties.
For operators deploying fiber deeper into the network, MoCA Access can provide another option for reaching individual subscribers without necessarily extending new fiber all the way to every unit.
This creates an architecture sometimes described as Fiber to the Extension Point (FTTep): fiber gets close to the subscriber, while existing coax handles the final connection.
Does using coax mean giving up fiber?
Not at all.
This isn’t necessarily a fiber versus coax decision.
It’s about determining where fiber provides the greatest value and where existing infrastructure can continue doing useful work.
Operators can bring fiber to a strategic point within a property and use MoCA Access technology to extend connectivity over the coax that’s already there.
The result can be a hybrid architecture that combines the capacity of fiber with the deployment advantages of existing coax.
Why use existing coax instead of installing new fiber everywhere?
The answer often comes down to time, cost and disruption.
A complete fiber overbuild can involve construction, new pathways, access to individual subscriber units, additional labor and longer deployment schedules. In occupied buildings, those challenges can become even more complicated.
Leveraging existing coax can help operators:
- Reduce new cabling requirements
- Minimize construction and property disruption
- Shorten deployment timelines
- Reduce labor requirements
- Lower upfront CAPEX
- Extend the useful life of existing infrastructure
For properties where coax is already installed and functioning, the question may no longer be, “How quickly can we replace it?”
A better question may be:
“How much more can we get out of the infrastructure that’s already here?”
The Bottom Line: Coax Isn't Finished Yet
Existing coax doesn’t automatically have to become obsolete when broadband requirements increase.
With modern MoCA Access technology, that infrastructure can support symmetrical speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, reach distances of up to approximately 300 yards under supported network conditions, coexist with existing services and connect multiple subscribers from a single Micronode architecture.
For network operators, property owners and broadband providers, that opens another path to delivering high-speed connectivity without automatically committing to a complete fiber overbuild.
Before replacing the coax, find out what it can do.
Talk to OptiConn AV about how Fi-Speed can help turn existing coax infrastructure into a high-speed broadband advantage.