You have already heard of passive optical networks (PON) — you just didn’t know it. A passive optical network is a type of telecommunications network that uses fiber optic cable to transmit data. It’s also lightning quick, which is why a PON is the go-to for high-bandwidth content like high-speed internet service, streaming video, or handling voice over internet protocol (VoIP).
PON is more than fast, however. It has an unexpected advantage that many find difficult to believe. With PON, there are no powered devices between the provider and the end user.
It sounds a bit like magic, but be assured, there’s no hocus pocus to PON. It’s a proven, reliable, and compelling network technology.
The Benefits of Passive Optical Networks
It’s not often that being passive is considered a benefit. But with network cabling, it is. As mentioned, a passive optical network has no powered equipment between the provider and end user. The only thing you’ll find en route is optical splitters. They are devices that divide the fiber optic light signal between multiple endpoints.
Why does that matter? Being passive means PON is:
Cost-Effective
There are no expensive powered devices that need replacing or repairing. Also, no power consumption means no electricity bills.
Highly Scalable
An optical splitter enables PON cabling to serve multiple people now and provide additional capacity in the future, all without the need to run more cables through your facility. A single optical splitter can serve up to 128 endpoints per fiber.
High Speed
PON provides a best-in-class network that is future-proofed for long, reliable, and lightning-fast performance. Typical speeds range from 1 to 10 Gbps.
The Components of PON
A passive optical network may not have powered equipment between the source and endpoint, but it does have devices. We already mentioned how optical splitters divide the light to serve multiple endpoints. The other two devices you’ll want to understand are the optical line terminal (OLT) and the optical network unit ONU.
What is an optical line terminal (OLT)?
The OLT lives at the source of the signal, often (but not always) the internet service provider. The OLT is the manager of the network. It converts electrical signals from the provider’s equipment into optical signals that can travel over optical fibers. But that’s not all. The OLT also allocates bandwidth and converts upstream traffic from ONUs (we discuss those next). Lastly, the OLT is responsible for security and maintaining the quality of service (QoS), ensuring each user is getting the appropriate speeds/connectivity.
What is an optical network unit (ONU)?
It might be easiest to understand the ONU by equating it to a modem. Like a modem, it sits in the user’s environment. The ONU receives a signal from the OLT via fiber optic cables. Then the ONU translates those optical signals back into electric signals that can be used by routers, computers, and other network-attached devices (both hardwired and wireless). You can also think of the ONU as a doorway, allowing information in and out.
The Big Picture: A PON Architecture Overview
In its most basic state, a PON network consists of an OLT as the source point. It goes through optical splitters during transmission, and is received by the ONU that converts the signal and disperses it to attached devices.
GPON vs EPON: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
Speed always matters. Especially when it comes to operations that depend on your facilities’ network infrastructure. Speed is also the key differentiator between a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) and an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON).
EPON Specifications
EPON is a data-network-friendly solution that is ideal for single-task applications such as providing internet service. It’s a simple network to design because it doesn’t use any other data encapsulations (only Ethernet). EPON is considered a lower-cost to deploy.
- Downstream Speed: Up to 1.25 Gbps (standard EPON), or 10 Gbps with 10G-EPON
- Upstream Speed: Symmetric (1.25 Gbps up / down, or 10 Gbps up / down)
GPON Specifications
GPON is a telecom-grade, carrier-oriented solution, designed to deliver guaranteed service levels. It provides highly efficient use of bandwidth, making it an excellent option for voice, video, and data. It also delivers very good QoS and is widely used by telecom providers globally.
- Downstream Speed: Up to 2.488 Gbps
- Upstream Speed: Up to 1.244 Gbps
Why Is Fiber Optic the Best Broadband Option?
Fiber optic service, also known as fiber to the premises (FTTP), is the gold standard of broadband connectivity. Be it speed or reliability, no other internet service option can match its performance.
We discussed how GPON delivers speeds up to 2.488 Gbps. But unbelievably, that’s not the fastest option. For the rare facilities that need even more speed, there is the next generation of specifications: XG-PON / XGS-PON. It is capable of supporting 10 Gbps symmetric speeds. Whether you’re turning to EPON, GPON, or XG-PON, they set a performance standard that copper wire or LTE internet service can’t match.
If speed is king, latency is queen. Latency is the delay between making a request (like clicking a button) and receiving a response. You hear about it a lot in the context of gaming. However, latency is a significant factor in business applications like distribution centers, with much of the work handled by robotics.
In terms of latency, fiber optic technology emerges victorious over copper wire. It also wins against satellite service. While satellite internet providers like Starlink can provide some remarkable (but inconsistent) speeds, they can’t equal the latency performance of PON.
Latency Speed Comparison
- PON: 1 to 10 ms
- Copper (DSL./CABLE): 10 to 30 ms
- Satellite (Starlink): 30 to 50 ms
- LTE: 30 to 70 ms
Let’s also regroup on the concept of reliability. Why is PON the more reliable option for broadband networking? The answer is simple: the cabling is all underground. That means it is unaffected by weather, electrical interference, and accidental damage to overhead lines (example: fallen tree limbs).
Ready to Future Proof Your Infrastructure with a Passive Optical Network?
A passive optical network is one way to future-proof your facility’s infrastructure, enabling it to handle the increasing demands of bandwidth, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and more. The best solutions will come from working with an expert. Matrix-NDI solves the challenges of your business operations by unlocking the full ROI of your technology investments. We design and install networks built for maximum speed and perfectly matched to bandwidth demands.
Why Work With Matrix-NDI?
We have on-staff Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDD), coast-to-coast service, and elite data networking partners, including Extreme Networks, Nile, and others. Ultimately, Matrix-NDI aligns your business with the devices, internet service, and software to achieve all technical objectives. We invite you to reach out with your needs and see how our expertise, partnerships, and national scale can be leveraged to solve them.
Contact Matrix-NDI to get started. Let’s build smarter, safer, more connected spaces — together.
