How do optical splitters distribute light signals in PON (Passive Optical Network)?
1 Answer
In a Passive Optical Network (PON), optical splitters are used to distribute light signals from a single optical line terminal (OLT) to multiple optical network units (ONUs) or optical network terminals (ONTs) located at the end-users' premises. PONs are a type of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network architecture that enable high-speed data, voice, and video transmission over optical fibers.
Optical splitters in a PON are passive devices, meaning they do not require any power source or active electronics. Instead, they use the principles of light propagation and splitting to distribute signals efficiently. The most common type of optical splitter used in PONs is the passive optical splitter based on the planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology.
Here's how the optical splitters distribute light signals in a PON:
Single Optical Line Terminal (OLT): The PON starts with a single OLT located at the service provider's central office or data center. The OLT is responsible for sending data, voice, and video signals over the optical fiber network.
Optical Fiber Distribution: The OLT transmits high-speed optical signals through a single optical fiber that serves as the backbone of the PON.
Optical Splitter: The optical splitter is typically installed at a central point in the network, often referred to as the "splitting point" or "splitting ratio." The optical splitter takes the incoming optical signal from the OLT and splits it into multiple output paths, each leading to an individual ONU or ONT.
Splitting Ratio: The splitting ratio determines how the optical power is divided among the output paths. Common splitting ratios in PONs are 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, and 1:32, meaning that a single incoming signal can be split into two, four, eight, sixteen, or thirty-two output signals of equal power.
Multiple ONUs/ONTs: Each output path from the splitter is connected to an ONU or ONT at the customer's location. These ONUs/ONTs are responsible for converting the optical signals back into electrical signals that can be used by the end-user's devices, such as computers, phones, or TVs.
Bidirectional Communication: PONs use a technique called Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) to enable bidirectional communication. This allows data to be sent both from the OLT to the ONUs (downstream) and from the ONUs to the OLT (upstream).
Signal Consolidation: Signals from all the ONUs/ONTs travel back to the optical splitter, where they are combined and sent to the OLT through the single optical fiber.
By using optical splitters, PONs can efficiently distribute high-bandwidth signals to multiple end-users without the need for active electronics in the distribution network. This passive architecture helps reduce costs and simplifies maintenance while still providing high-speed and reliable fiber optic connections to customers.
Optical splitters in a PON are passive devices, meaning they do not require any power source or active electronics. Instead, they use the principles of light propagation and splitting to distribute signals efficiently. The most common type of optical splitter used in PONs is the passive optical splitter based on the planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology.
Here's how the optical splitters distribute light signals in a PON:
Single Optical Line Terminal (OLT): The PON starts with a single OLT located at the service provider's central office or data center. The OLT is responsible for sending data, voice, and video signals over the optical fiber network.
Optical Fiber Distribution: The OLT transmits high-speed optical signals through a single optical fiber that serves as the backbone of the PON.
Optical Splitter: The optical splitter is typically installed at a central point in the network, often referred to as the "splitting point" or "splitting ratio." The optical splitter takes the incoming optical signal from the OLT and splits it into multiple output paths, each leading to an individual ONU or ONT.
Splitting Ratio: The splitting ratio determines how the optical power is divided among the output paths. Common splitting ratios in PONs are 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, and 1:32, meaning that a single incoming signal can be split into two, four, eight, sixteen, or thirty-two output signals of equal power.
Multiple ONUs/ONTs: Each output path from the splitter is connected to an ONU or ONT at the customer's location. These ONUs/ONTs are responsible for converting the optical signals back into electrical signals that can be used by the end-user's devices, such as computers, phones, or TVs.
Bidirectional Communication: PONs use a technique called Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) to enable bidirectional communication. This allows data to be sent both from the OLT to the ONUs (downstream) and from the ONUs to the OLT (upstream).
Signal Consolidation: Signals from all the ONUs/ONTs travel back to the optical splitter, where they are combined and sent to the OLT through the single optical fiber.
By using optical splitters, PONs can efficiently distribute high-bandwidth signals to multiple end-users without the need for active electronics in the distribution network. This passive architecture helps reduce costs and simplifies maintenance while still providing high-speed and reliable fiber optic connections to customers.