IEC 60728-113:2018

Overview

IEC 60728-113:2018 defines requirements and measurement methods for optical systems for broadcast signal transmission loaded with digital channels only. It covers optical distribution systems from headend equipment through optical transmission lines, in-house wiring and system outlets - primarily for digital television and sound signals delivered over FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) or compatible telecommunication optical segments. The standard limits the upper RF signal frequency to about 1 000 MHz and introduces xPON as an example physical-layer medium while excluding IP transport technologies (e.g., IP multicast).

Key topics and technical requirements

• System scope and reference model: headend → optical transmission → in‑house wiring → outlets for fully digital broadcast and narrowcast services.
• Measurement methods and parameters: defined procedures for measuring optical power, RF signal level, signal-to-noise (S/N), relative intensity noise (RIN), signal-to-crosstalk ratio (SCR), RF S/IN, bit error ratio (BER), and modulation error ratio (MER).
• Preparation and environmental conditions: standard measurement conditions, equipment accuracy, AGC/ALC handling and impedance matching.
• Performance limits and specifications: methods to assess system performance and margins; specifications for BER at headend inputs, MER, and in‑building S/N targets (detailed thresholds are in the standard).
• Optical aspects and impairments: guidance on optical wavelengths, channel level differences, and optical non‑linear effects (annex material addresses SBS, SRS, SPM, XPM and other degradations).
• Interference considerations: Clause 7 discusses interference between telecommunication and broadcast systems when sharing optical infrastructure.
• Annexes for practice: informative annexes cover BER extrapolation, measurement of component parameters, peak/average power (CCDF) for digitally modulated signals, and real-world design hints.

Applications

IEC 60728-113 is practical for:

• Designing and validating FTTH broadcast overlays and RF-over-fiber distribution carrying multiple digital channels.
• Commissioning and field-testing optical distribution systems from headend to subscriber outlets.
• Laboratory and factory test procedures for optical transmitters/receivers, headend equipment, and distribution amplifiers.
• Assessing performance limits and troubleshooting impairments (RIN, crosstalk, non-linearities).

Who should use this standard

• Network designers and system integrators deploying FTTH broadcast or narrowcast services
• Test laboratories and commissioning teams performing RF-over-fiber measurements
• Equipment manufacturers (optical transceivers, headend gear, PON equipment)
• Operators and regulators defining performance criteria for optical broadcast distribution

Related standards

• IEC 60728 series (cable networks for television/sound/interactive services)
• For systems requiring bandwidth beyond ~1 000 MHz, see IEC 60728-13-1

Keywords: IEC 60728-113, FTTH, RF over fiber, optical broadcast, measurement methods, BER, RIN, MER, S/N, xPON.