Fiber has been an integral part of broadband network architectures for decades. For much of that time, however, it wasn’t feasible to use fiber for the “last mile” connection to the premises.
As technology has continued to evolve, we’ve seen exciting advancements in Passive Optical Networks (PON) that have brought fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) within reach. Current PON technologies have enabled operators to create more cost-effective FTTP solutions. What they haven’t been able to accomplish, however, is to ensure interoperability between OLTs and ONTs from distinct vendors.
As new vendors enter the market, operators have more options available, giving them the flexibility to select the best OLT and ONT solution for their specific network needs without needing to procure both from the same vendor to ensure interoperability. These solutions will require greater bandwidth capacity and high-quality consumer experiences.
What are the Industry’s Current Challenges?
Operators have been using PON networks for many years, but they aren’t without challenges. Interoperability remains elusive, even as the cable industry has experienced greater demand for distributed access and virtual networks.
For example, there is significant variation in the requirements created by two of the industry’s standards bodies: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). IEEE standards for Ethernet Passive Optical Networking (EPON) were developed with interoperability in mind, but that isn’t necessarily the case for ITU standards, which allow for more flexibility in the specification. The result is that manufacturers can engineer competitive differences into the technology, preventing interoperability across different manufacturers.
To solve these problems and meet market needs, operators must find solutions for key challenges including:
- Lack of Standardization – Differing requirements of industry standards bodies have resulted in lack of standardization on solution specifications. This variety and differentiation results in variable customer premises equipment (CPE) devices that don’t adequately interoperate with the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) at the other end of the link.
- Lack of Ubiquitous Interoperability – The end result of non-standard requirements is that interoperability remains out of reach. As suppliers elect for more optionality in development and create their own test programs, operators are left to conduct extensive lab trials to validate product interoperability.
As applications like augmented reality, telehealth, and high-quality streaming create greater demand for both speed and quality, new fiber technologies must address these challenges.
What Developments Are Shaping the Future of PON?
The good news is that the industry as a whole recognizes the need for innovation and is making significant strides. For example, CableLabs recently issued the Architecture Specification for Coherent Passive Optical Networks (CPON) 100 Gb/s (100G) Single Wavelength PON, which will prepare the way for next-generation PON technology with increased network capacity and extended reach.
“Operators want to future-proof the network as much as is realistically feasible,” said Jason Lauer, Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Kyrio. “Operators will need to lead the way in defining and mandating interoperability for products being sold today and in the near future in order to influence the current direction of the supplier ecosystem.”
Jason sees several exciting advancements that are shaping the path for PON development:
- The manufacturing community is ahead of the demand.
Applications of the future will require greater speed and more bandwidth. These anticipated needs are driving demand for higher-speed networks that can support the technology of the future. The PON community is already planning to extend the capabilities beyond what is currently available today.
- For example, operators are already deploying 10G PON solutions and will want to expand to 25G, 50G and even 100G-capable PON networks. The goal is to future-proof the network by developing capacity ahead of the demand, so the fiber that is installed today can support the application needs of the future.
- Growing availability of pluggable units results in cost savings.
Pluggable units act as a connecting interface between fiber cabling and networking equipment, allowing a network switch to function as an OLT. As these units become more widely available, operators will benefit from:-
- Energy Savings – These units require less space, and therefore less heating and cooling to run the same number of end connections. The caveat is that as energy that is typically dispersed over a large rack-mount unit is put through a much smaller device, testing protocols will be needed to demonstrate that the units can operate at varying temperatures.
- Supply Chain Savings – Operators can place more computing power closer to neighborhoods, and they can service more homes with less equipment. Fewer equipment requirements result in supply chain savings and lower costs to acquire.
- Monitoring Tools –are improving in functionality and availability. There are already analytical tools available that can provide real-time monitoring and updates. This allows operators to minimize outages and downtime because they know exactly which users have been affected.
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Where is the Industry Headed?
Current PON standards generally result in proprietary solutions because of the flexibility of the standard requirements. As service operators begin to demand interoperability of PON products from the supplier community, there will be a greater need for standardized provisioning and messaging.
“As we develop the next generation of PON architecture, operators will need to champion interoperability,” said Jason. “If more ubiquitous standardization with similar optionality can move forward, then true interoperability will be possible.”
To achieve this goal, manufacturers will also need to prove interoperability through rigorous, neutral testing. That’s where Kyrio can help. Kyrio’s testing strategies put products to the test in a third-party neutral lab where performance can be evaluated in the presence of other devices.
Addressing the interoperability issue is perhaps the most urgent need for the cable industry. Increasing demands for speed, bandwidth, and quality of service will also set the stage for evolving architectures to support new application development. As we look to the future, manufacturers and operators will need to work together to create a cohesive ecosystem that can support the next generation of PON development.
