A passive
optical network (PON) is a
point-to-multipoint fiber network in which unpowered splitters and fiber
distribution equipment are used to allow a single strand of single-mode optical
fiber to serve multiple end users. A PON system consists of an Optical Line Terminal
(OLT) at the service provider’s data center and optical network terminals (ONT)
located at the end user’s locations.
CLICK TO TWEET: It is time to get your PON on! CommScope's James Donovan explains what you will learn from this Infrastructure Academy course.
In any
PON, there are no active devices between a provider’s central office
electronics and the subscriber’s premise. “Central electronics” usually refers
to a central office or head-end type facility, however, it can include a remote
terminal-type device especially if it serves a significant number of
subscribers.
PON uses
optical splitting devices to manage light, reduce the feeder fiber counts and
share optical transmitter (laser) ports. Physical connectivity between OLT and
ONTs is provided by single mode optical fiber and optical splitters. Because the
splitters do not require power, the PON cable plant is fully passive. Note that
the optical splitters can be cascaded to one another and simultaneously provide
connectivity for ONTs.
Available
since the 1990s, PON technology has been widely and successfully deployed for residential
TV, voice, and data. PON grew out of a need by the telecom industry to provide dramatically
more bandwidth to subscribers, replacing aging copper infrastructures, reducing
power requirements, and reducing operating expenses.
If you want
to know more about PON and the latest iterations of the technology, and understand the topologies and
architectures of PON networks, then I recommend you enroll in the CommScope Infrastructure Academy’s FTTx
Optical Systems course (WR9421).
This
course helps you understand all the optical systems used for FTTx networks,
including PON and hybrid fiber coaxial network (HFC) transmissions and the
infrastructure components involved.
Additional
resources: