PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORKS
17
By Excel
www.excel-networking.com
Future-proofing networks with a
scalable, cost-reducing and highly
efficient technology
PON is an umbrella industry term for fibre-based access
networking architecture designed for both residential
environments (FTTx) and enterprise environments (POL).
PON infrastructure is being used in a wide range of
residential and commercial applications, with a rise in
usage being seen in enterprise environments. Using access
networks or telecoms grade technology can flatten a
traditional LAN installation.
There are two main forms of Passive Optical Network:
EPON – prominent in the Asia region, and GPON –
prominent within America and Europe. A PON installation
relies upon a backbone of OS2 Singlemode fibre cabling
alongside three additional components – OLTs, splitters and
ONTs. As such, a PON application provides numerous key
benefits:
Space and cost savings
POL (Passive Optical LAN) solutions
have some engaging and compelling
arguments when it comes to cost and
space savings, as well as reducing overall
total cost of ownership. A POL Solution
relies on less physical equipment to create a complete
solution. Reliance on fibre optic splitters in the mid-span of
the network removes the need for aggregation switches.
With a fibre optic splitter occupying a considerably smaller
footprint than an aggregation switch, the associated
housing equipment is reduced also.
Fewer switches, smaller enclosures and a smaller real
estate footprint requirement allow for a more cost-effective
use of space, helping to create considerable CapEx savings
in the upfront spend of network deployments. What’s more,
the nature of a POL solution is passive, meaning the costs
associated with power and cooling systems is taken out
of the equation, leading to increased OpEx savings and
increased return on investment (ROI). With absolute central
management from the OLT to all ONTs, further savings can
be achieved by reduced labour costs; since everything is
centrally managed, skilled and trained network engineers
don’t need to waste time travelling from switch to switch to
configure the ports.
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