Providing digital data services as electrical signals and radio-frequency (RF) communications over optical fiber in distributed communications systems, and related components and methods

A distributed communication system, comprising:

• head end equipment (HEE) configured to receive communications over downlink electrical signals from a source, the HEE comprising an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert the downlink electrical signals to downlink optical signals;
• at least one remote unit, comprising:
• an optical input;
• at least one antenna;
• and
• a data medium input comprising a data input and a power input;
• at least one optical fiber configured to couple the HEE to the at least one remote unit through the optical input, the at least one optical fiber being configured to carry communications signals between the HEE and the remote unit;
• at least one power unit, comprising:
• an electrical input medium comprising a plurality of electrical input links each configured to convey digital data signals and power signals;
• an electrical output medium comprising a plurality of electrical output links comprising an upper set of electrical output links and a lower set of electrical output links, wherein
• the upper set of electrical output links and the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical communications output configured to distribute the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to at least one communications interface;
• and
• the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical power output configured to distribute the power signals to at least one power interface;
• and
• a circuit configured to:
• receive the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium;
• receive the power signals from one or more electrical input links of the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium;
• provide the received digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to the at least one electrical communications output;
• and
• exclusively provide the received power signals from the one or more electrical input links to the lower set of electrical output links of the at least one electrical power output.