Evaluating strategies for evolution of passive optical networks

Abstract

Rapidly-increasing traffic demands will require the upgrade of optical access networks, namely deployed Passive Optical Networks (PONs), which may soon face capacity exhaustion. Such upgrade options must consider several technical and cost factors for evolution toward a shared multiple-channel PON using Wavelength- Division Multiplexing (WDM). WDM can facilitate the seamless upgrade of PONs, since capacity can be increased by adding new wavelength channels. We study the requirements for optimal migration toward higher bandwidth per user, and examine scenarios and cost-effective solutions for PON evolution.