As cable networks continue on an evolutionary path to offer high-speed data and interactive services that require more and more two-way traffic, backbone gear is also trending to widen the return channel to handle the increase in bi-directional traffic as well.

That’s the impetus behind a new line of dual channel digital return transceivers and receivers announced today from optical transport provider Aurora Networks. Aurora’s dual segment devices are designed to allow twice the amount of information to be transmitted over the same fiber cable operators have in place today.

By essentially doubling the amount of bandwidth available in the return path, operators rolling out new high-speed data and telephony services can use the new Aurora gear as an alternative to deploying new fiber for the node segmentation usually associated with these kinds of advanced service rollouts, the company said. Aurora’s digital return products enable existing optical nodes to be fully segmented, allowing operators today to use the infrastructure they already have in place in their networks. Aurora puts twice as much data onto the same fiber through two discrete return channels of upstream data from the optical node. Then each channel is received independently by the dual channel receiver and routed through discrete RF return outputs.

Aurora is planning on launching DT4200 Series Digital Transceiver modules for their NC4000 series optical nodes in January 2003. DT5200 Series Digital Transceiver modules for Motorola’s Starline series optical nodes are available today, the company said.