PROVIDING SUBSCRIBER ACCESS TO A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Voice and data services are delivered to subscribers from a Tier 2 exchange via an optical fibre path to a local distribution unit to which the subscribers are coupled by copper loops. Each subscriber is served via a respective line card at the exchange. Coupling over the fibre path is effected by digitizing analogue signals from the line cards and multiplexing the digitized signals together. At the distribution unit, the digitized signals are de-multiplexed and their analogue form is recovered for delivery over the subscriber loops. In a further embodiment, the technique can be used over a single subscriber line, e.g. to provide data services over a long loop that would otherwise have insufficient bandwidth for such services.