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PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORKS
Energy efficient
A typical POL Solution has a reduced
cooling requirement and a lower power
consumption rate than a traditional
LAN network, as there’s no power
requirement in the mid-span.
High bandwidth
Typically, within a POL solution,
the service is split into two signals:
downstream and upstream. The
solutions deliver 2.5Gbps and 1.25Gbps
respectively. This is a considerable
improvement in Internet connectivity to that which
traditional technology offers, taking a standard home that
currently experiences speeds of, when on the higher level of
offering from an ISP, 100Mbps to a speed that’s ten times
faster. The systems utilise dynamic bandwidth allocation
technology, which can leverage unused bandwidth with
the system to allow users to get more effective upstream
bandwidth when needed.
A true roadmap for faster networks
POL operates on singlemode fibre, which
by design is future-proof with the fibre
being able to handle not just 2.5Gbps,
but also 10Gbps and 40Gbps. There
is even the potential in the future for
100Gbps network speeds.
The nature of Passive Optical LAN means that the
infrastructure doesn’t have to change when the network
migrates. The singlemode fibre stays the same throughout
the transition and owners are only required to upgrade the
users as and when a change is deemed necessary, making
a POL solution flexible and adaptable to change. When the
emerging technology is here, the fibre will be ready, willing
and able to take the load.
PON solution can support distances of up to 20km between
the OLT and the ONT, which is more than enough to
appropriately cover any campus environment.
Easier network management
With fewer components to create a
complete end-to-end solution, the
whole network is easier to manage. All
management of the ONTs is delivered
at the level of the OLTs. This centralised
positioning and management in a PON network creates
a simpler solution. If a problem arises in a PON solution,
pinpointing the source of the issue is easier than in a
traditional LAN network.
Less physical equipment required
POL reduces the reliance on, and cost
of physical equipment in the fibre
distribution network. No physical
switches are necessary in the mid-
span and because a single fibre can be
split into many different signals – less fibre is required in
the network. A POL network requires less floor space and
removes the need for SERs, helping to create considerable
CapEx and OpEx savings from the design of the network
through to the ongoing management of the solution.
As an example, a recent survey found that the cost to
deliver one square metre of floor space in central London
was approximately £2900. By not requiring the same
amount of equipment or space (no power or cooling
requirement in the mid-span and no need for IDFs or
SERs) as a traditional LAN installation, if you can save an
organisation 1000 square metres, they could benefit from
CapEx savings equating to £2.9 million.
What’s more, the reduction in power and cooling required
in the mid-span due to having no active devices in place
can lead to considerable OpEx cost savings in the region of
62.20% power savings per year.
Superior performance and scalability
The passive optical splitters provide
higher efficiency by allowing each fibre
optic core to be split into 32 signals,
which could ultimately lead to 768 end-
user ports (32 by 24 port ONTs).
Longer distances
PON applications support the long-
reach service coverage to overcome the
challenges encountered with twisted
pair cables. Due to the nature of
backbone singlemode fibre networks, a
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Increased security
The use of fibre optic cabling in a PON
solution ensures the utmost security for
data transmission, in comparison to a
traditional LAN network. n