SC114 Passive Optical Networks (PONs)

Sunday, March 22, 2009
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Paul Shumate; IEEE Lasers & Electro-Optics Society, USA
Level: Advanced Beginner (basic understanding of topic is necessary to follow course material)

Course Description

Passive Optical Networks (PONs) are experiencing solid double-digit growth as they become the key network approach for deploying Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and to other premises. It is important to understand the pros and cons of these networks, particularly what advantages they offer versus active and point-to-point alternatives. This includes knowing the trade-offs among the three most common PONs: GPONs (“gigabit” PONs which use a protocol evolved from ATM, the Asynchronous Transfer Mode), EPONs (“Ethernet” PONs which use a modified Ethernet protocol), and WDM-PONs (“wavelength-division multiplexed” PONs which assign a unique optical wavelength to each customer). All three, as well as other versions of PONs, can deliver today’s triple-play services over a single, low-maintenance, future-proof network. This course examines and compares PON architectures, their transport protocols, their evolution to meet future needs, and CAPEX and OPEX considerations.

Benefits and Learning Objectives

This course should enable you to:

  • Understand and discuss the capabilities and advantages of different PONs.
  • Be able to describe the pros and cons of ATM/GEM vs. Ethernet for broadband access.
  • Be able to explain the motivations behind the Full-Service-Access-Network and Ethernet-in-the-First-Mile initiatives.
  • Understand the relative importance of operations expenses (OPEX) compared with capital expenses (CAPEX).

Intended Audience

Engineers, network planners, and product designers involved with broadband access and a need to understand passive optical networks.

Biography

Paul Shumate most recently was executive director of the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, and was formerly chief scientist and assistant general manager at Telcordia Technologies. He is a leading industry proponent of advanced lightwave technologies, including fiber-to-the-home, for delivering broadband services to residences and small businesses. A Bellcore Fellow, a Fellow of the IEEE, and a member of the Optical Society of America, he has also received the Telephony Vision Award and the IEEE Edwin H. Armstrong Award for his fiber-in-the-loop contributions. His research interests include optical networks, lightwave devices, systems, reliability and business modeling.