PON Technology – A Shift in

Building Network Infrastructure

Bob Matthews
Technical Manager
CommScope Canada
 The Evolution to PON
In 1980s -1990s, we had:
Service Providers deployed thousands of
• Dial up modems – The best data rate we could get
miles of Optical cable into their Backbone
from home…. 56Kbps
network.
• Cable TV
• Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

15 years later, Convergence brought us a single connection to the outside

world, that supported all of those “old” services in New ways, at significantly
higher data rates…
 So, what is PON (or POL)?
Definition:
• A passive optical network (PON) is a telecommunications network that uses point to
multipoint fiber to the premises in which unpowered optical splitters are used to
enable a single optical fiber to serve multiple premises. A PON consists of an Optical
Line Terminal (OLT) at the service provider's central office and a number of Optical
Network Units (ONUs) near the end users. A PON reduces the amount of fiber and
central office equipment required compared with point to point architectures. A
passive optical network is a form of fiber-optic access network.
credit – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Outdoor Fiber To The “x”
 Passive Optical LANs (POL)
FTTH Vertical Data &
ONT PON ONT
Video Single Family
Residence

FTTmdu Gateway
ONT Vertical
PON Ethernet
ONT

FTTB
ONT Multi-Tenant

OLT Vertical
PON
ONT E1/T1 Router /
Service OLT Switch
Provider PBX
Network(s)
Ethernet
Businesses
 PON History
Year Development
1995 FSAN (Full Service Access Network) working group begins working on FTTH
ITU does additional work and releases the G.983 Standard based on ATM PON (APON).

Downstream speed – 622MBps (OC-12); Upstream – 155Mbps (OC-3) typical

~1998 BPON (or Broadband PON) Standard released later
BPON was the most widely deployed form PON, it integrated WDM to support RF Analog signals

BPON supported the transport of POTS, ISDN, Data, Cable TV, Video on Demand LAN Interconnection,
Video Conferencing
2001-2002 BPON was the defacto standard
2003 ITU ratifies and releases the G.984 standard for Gigabit PON (GPON)
GPON supports 2.448Gbs (OC-48) downstream, 1.244Gbs upstream
GPON uses either ATM or GEM (GPON Encapsulation Method) transport
 PON History cont’d
Year Development
2004 IEEE release the Ethernet in the First Mile standard 802.3ah
EPON uses standard 802.3 Ethernet frames
Downstream = Upstream = 1.25Gbs
EPON is designed for Data centric networks, and supports Voice, data and video services.

802.3av (10GE-PON) is ratified as an amendment.

10G-EPON supports 10/1Gbs simultaneously downstream

By 2005, Verizon and SBC had rolled out over 800,000 subscribers to their
Fiber to the Home networks.
 Fiber Advantages over Copper Infrastructure
for the POL
Passive Optical LANs (POL) are ideal solutions for new Infrastructure builds and Upgrades,
offering:
• CAPEX and OPEX Savings
• Reduced Equipment costs (fewer Aggregation switches),
• Reduced Cooling needs (reduced HVAC handlers)
• Future Proof upgrade path to higher Bandwidths
• Guaranteed Bandwidth: using a Centralized switch is more efficient compared to a
traditional layered active switch model.

Fiber Cable has shown to be more advantageous compared to Copper solutions in a number of
ways:
• Distance: whether Multimode or Single mode fiber, transmission distance is significantly
longer than all Category rated cable solutions
• Bandwidth: Unlimited (maybe), but at a minimum significantly higher than Category 6A, or
even emerging Category 8
• Reliability: not susceptible to corrosion
• Reduced Power Needs: Optical interfaces use less power, compared to Copper NICs
 The Technology of a POL or PON
ONT
ONU User 1
Central Office Outside Plant

OLT ONT
ONU User 2
Single Mode Fiber Category
Cable
Optical Line Passive
Terminal Optical ONT
ONU User 3
Splitter
Optical Network
Network Device
Unit
 The Technology of a POL or PON
ONT
ONU User 1
Head End InBuilding or
OSP

OLT ONT
ONU User 2
Single Mode Fiber Category
Cable
Optical Line Passive
Terminal Optical ONT
ONU User 3
Splitter
Optical Network
Network Device
Unit
 Down-Stream – Point to Multi-Point
Downstream Broadcast
All Data goes to all ONUs, the ONU address
controls the downstream data. User 1
ONU

OLT ONU User 2

Category
Cable

ONU User 3

Optical Line Passive Optical Network

Terminal Optical Network Device
Splitter Unit
 Up-Stream – Time Division Multiplex Access
Upstream TDMA Operation
ONUs send information to the OLT in
a specific time window/slot ONU User 1

OLT ONU User 2

Category
Cable

ONU User 3

Optical Line Passive Optical Network

Terminal Optical Network Device
Splitter Unit
 WHY POL?
Application Usage
8.45 4.35 2.88

10.19
email
Web HTTP
File Transfer
Online Conference
Instant Messaging
42.12
other
32.01
Data courtesy of IBM
 Traffic Types
Consider This!
Application Actual Bandwidth
VoIP Phone ~ 100Kbps
Cloud Access 50 ~200 Kbps
Web Browsing 50 ~300 Kbps
eMail 50 ~ 500 Kbps
Virtual Desktop (VDI) 500 Kbps ~ 2 Mbps
Video Conferencing ~ 2 Mbps
Online Video ~ 2 Mbps
Video Surveillance ~ 6 Mbps

Data courtesy of IBM

 Bandwidth Usage
Bandwidth Usage
Percentage of User Population

50.0% 46.3%
40.3%
40.0%

30.0%

20.0%
13.1%
10.0%
0.2% 0.1%
0.0%
0-1 Mbps 1 Mbps - 10 Mbps 10 Mbps - 50 Mbps 50 Mbps - 80 Mbps 80 Mbps - 200 Mbps

Data courtesy of IBM

 Observations
• ~ 74% of traffic was Email and Web Surfing
• ~ 95% of the Users used less than 80 Mbps in
total Bandwidth (86% used less than 50Mbps)
• That most applications do not require the Bandwidth
we think

• Most traffic was passed through the Core Router, very

little peer to peer traffic
• Enterprise traffic is Hub and Spoke based, generally
applications reside in a Central Data Center
• HTTP traffic increases as Cloud services increase

• The Usage patterns which give rise to decentralized computing and LANs are shifting
back to a centralized model with a different network architecture
 Traditional LAN Architecture
• Based on Layered Active Switches
Core Switch • Access Layer passes traffic up to Distribution layer, then
Layer up to the Core Switch and routed to End Destination
• If Source and Destination share a similar layer the traffic is
Distribution
switched at that layer and not passed further up
Layer • Physical Limitations exist with this architecture:
• End Users cannot be more than 100 M (including
Aggregation Patch cords) from the serving Access Layer switch
Layer for Copper cabling
Distance
Limited

• Similar limitation exists between Layered Switches

if Copper Cabling is used
• If Multimode Fiber is used, distance is limited by
Access Fiber type and Bandwidth
• Telecom Closets must be within these guidelines to
Layer
ensure Standards are met
• Copper cabling must be kept a minimum distance
away from power cables
End User • Operational and Management challenges include:
• All VLANs, Priorities, QoS, CoS etc, must be
provisioned in ALL switches and maintained at all
levels.
 Passive Optical LAN Architecture
• Passive Optical LANs overcome the limitations found in
Core Switch Copper based implementations
OLT Layer 1. Significant reduction in Active equipment,
Distribution resulting in a flatter network topology
2. OLT can function as Core Switch and /or
Layer
S Distribution Layer Switch
3. Distance limits are eliminated, POLs support
Aggregation

S
X
Layer
distance up to 20Kms
4. Elimination of Aggregation Switches reduces
/eliminates power and cooling at these locations
5. Potential Elimination of Telecom Closet space,
providing more work space
6. Passive Splitters require no HVAC systems
7. Single OA&M system to provision VLANs, CoS,
ONT Access etc
Layer 8. Auto-Provisioning of ONTs based on profiles
9. Passive Splitters provide wide range of split
End User ratios (1:4, 1:8,1:32, 1:64, etc)
 Why EPON ? – GPON vs. EPON Layering
Various T1/E1 POTS Data Video Layer 5 T1/E1 POTS Data Video
services TDM TDM

TCP-UDP etc Layer 4 TCP-UDP etc

IP Layer 3 IP

Ethernet

ATM cell GEM frame Layer 2

GTC TC Frame Ethernet Frame

GTC sub-layer MAC Layer

PON - PHY Layer 1 PON - PHY

Networks are about Efficiency!

 EPON & GPON Summary
 Both EPON and GPON recognized the need to evolve PON to being a Gigabit capable
solution for transporting Ethernet IP traffic.

 Both utilize a common optical infrastructure, but very different in execution. EPON
extended native Ethernet to support the PON P2MP architecture, while GPON wished
to extend the life of GFP framed SONET/SDH

 GPON Telco legacy supporting legacy telecom SONET networking

• GPON link rates match ITU standards like OC3, OC12, etc
• North American Telcos SONET/GPON
• Equipment based on ITU/SONET typically more expensive/complicated

 EPON is designed to support Ethernet and IP

• EPON link rates match IEEE standards like 1Gbs, 10Gbs, etc
• North American Cable Operators adopting EPON
• EPON is widely deployed world-wide
• Ethernet and IP scale reducing costs and driving investment in EPON systems
 Where Does PON fit?
File
WEB Transfer Cloud Video (IPTV or Video
Email Browsing (FTP) VoIP Services CCTV) Conf’ing
Residential √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~
Hospitality √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~
Residence/
√ √ ~ √ √ √ ~
Dorms
Condos √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~
Retail Space √ √ x √ √ √ x
Commercial
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
(Office Space)
Industrial Space
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
 Case Study – Traditional vs. POL Design

TR

Hotel Design Requirements:

• 42 rooms /Floor
• (4) Cat 6 drops/room ( 168/Floor)
• 5 Floors
• Total building length – 300 ft.
• Main Equipment Room on Main Floor
• (1) Telecom Room per Floor
 Traditional Network Design for Hotel/Dorm

• 4 Category 6 Cables w/ Patch cords

• 4 Category 6 Switch Ports in Telecom Closet

• Bandwidth Available: 1GBps

• Bandwidth needed: < 100Mbps to support IPTV, VoIP, Internet Access
 PON Design for Hotel/Dorm

• 1 Fiber Strand used from Splitter

• Copper Patch cords

• Bandwidth Available: 1GBps

• Bandwidth needed: < 100Mbps to support IPTV, VoIP, Internet Access
Conventional Design Wisdom
Conventional Wisdom says:
Per Floor:
• 168 Cat 6 Drops (4x42)
• (4) – 48 port Switches
• (4) – 48 port Patch Panels
• (1) – Fiber Patch Panel
• (1) – Rack

Main Equipment Room (1st Floor):

• 168 Cat 6 Drops (4x42)
• (4) – 48 port Switches
• (4) – 48 port Patch Panels
• (1) – Core Switch/Router
• (1) – Fiber Patch Panel
• (1) – Rack
 PON Design
PON Design:
Per Floor:
• 1 Single Mode Fiber/room
• (0) – 48 port Switches
• (0) – 48 port Patch Panels
• (0) – Rack
• Fiber Wall Box with Splitters
• (1) – ONU/room

Main Equipment Room (1st Floor):

• (0) – 48 port Switches
• (0) – 48 port Patch Panels
• (0) – Core Switch/Router
• (1) – ONU/room
• (1) – PON OLT w/ L2/3
• (1) – Fiber Patch Panel
• (1) – Rack
 Equipment Comparison
PON Traditional
Cat 6 Cabling √
Cat 6 Patch Panels √
Fiber Cabling √ √
Fiber Patch Panels √ √
Cat 6 Switches √
Core Switch/Router √
Fiber Wall Boxes w/splitters √

PON OLT √
PON ONU √
 Installation Time – Physical Install
Time Qty EPON Traditional
Cat 6 Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =(4x42x5) 840.0
=840
Cat 6 Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =4x5 6.0
=20
Fiber Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =8 /floor Back Bone 8.0 8.0
=42/floor PON 42.0
Fiber Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =1 /floor Back Bone 1.5
= 1 PON 0.3
Cat 6 Switches .3 Hour/Switch =4x5 6.0
=20
Core Switch/Router .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5
PON OLT .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5
PON ONU .3 Hour / ONU =42x5
=210 ONUs 63.0
TOTAL Hours 113.8 862.0
 Installation Time – Physical Install
Time Qty EPON Traditional
Cat 6 Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =(4x42x5) 210.0
=840
Cat 6 Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =4x5 6.0
=20
Fiber Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =8 /floor Back Bone 8.0 8.0
=42/floor PON 42.0
Fiber Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =1 /floor Back Bone 1.5
= 1 PON 0.3
Cat 6 Switches .3 Hour/Switch =4x5 6.0
=20
Core Switch/Router .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5
PON OLT .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5
PON ONU .2 Hour / ONU =42x5
=210 ONUs 63.0
TOTAL Hours 113.8 232.0
 Installation Time – Configuration
Time Qty EPON Traditional
Cat 6 Switches 1 Hour/Switch =20 (4x5) 20.0
Core Switch/Router 2 Hour/Switch =1 2.0
PON OLT 2 Hour/Switch =1 2.0
PON ONU .3 Hour / =210 (42x5) ONUs 0.3
configuration 1 configuration
TOTAL Hours 2.3 22.0

Total Time Needed:

Time Qty EPON Traditional
Installation Time 113.8 232.0
Configuration Time 2.3 22.0
TOTAL Hours 116.1 254.0
 Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Summary
TCO is comprised of both CAPEX and OPEX costs
• CAPEX costs for Horizontal, Riser and Main Equipment room include:
• Equipment acquisition
• Initial Installation costs
The main capital saving of a POL network comes from the installation and equipment in the Riser closets.
The elimination of the Edge switches and replacing them with passive optical splitters.

• OPEX costs for a traditional LAN is one of the biggest expenses for all enterprises. The on-going
costs associated with Network Management, HVAC, Telecom Room space are always increasing.
• Network Management costs include; service provision costs (work orders, testing, VLAN
assignments, etc), Switch Maintenance costs (including Patches, upgrades)
• Training
• Sparing
Floor Space, Heating and Cooling are the major sources of OPEX cost saving. POL networks reduce floor
space needs by >60% and reduce energy costs >70%
 GREEN Benefits of a POL
The POL network provides a number of key Green benefits to a
building owner:

1. Power savings from eliminated Access and Aggregation

Switches
2. Reduced equipment needs – Switches, Patch Panels,
Cabling and cable trays etc.
3. Reduced Floor space needs – elimination of Telecom Rooms
4. Reduced Materials – significantly less cabling, reduced
packaging and minimal waste
 Traditional networks vs. POL Summary
Passive Optical LAN technology supports all of the
requirements of today’s enterprise network with a much lower
cost than traditional LAN designs.

It is a GREEN technology, which seamlessly enables smart

buildings.

Finally, it supports an easy migration to higher data rates (10G)

when needed.

REMEMBER:

Networks are about Efficiency!

Thank You

Bob Matthews
Technical Manager
CommScope Canada
Booth 500