Communication system architecture, exchange having a plurality of broadband modems and method of supporting broadband operation on a one to one basis

A method of transferring encoded broadband data between an exchange having a plurality of broadband modems and a subscriber terminal containing a broadband modem arranged to communicate, over respective broadband channels, bi-directional encoded broadband data with a selected one of the plurality of broadband modems in the exchange, the encoded broadband data communicated between the exchange and the subscriber terminal via a distribution point that is coupled to the exchange via an optical fibre and which is coupled to the subscriber terminal via a copper-drop, the method comprising the steps of:

• modulating onto the optical fibre encoded broadband data addressed to the subscriber terminal at the exchange;
• decoding the encoded broadband data addressed to the subscriber terminal at the subscriber terminal;
• modulating onto the optical fibre encoded broadband data addressed to the exchange at the subscriber terminal;
• and
• decoding the encoded broadband data addressed to the exchange at the exchange, thereby to provide a one-to-one mapping of broadband modems between the exchange and the subscriber terminal.