Academic Journal of Suriname 2017, 8, 708-714 Technology Full-length paper Fiber Optic Access Networks (FTTX, PON, EFM) Serge Dompig 1, Alexei Ortiz 2, Doric Ramlakhan 3 Graduate student in Communications Systems, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Pinar del Rio University, Pinar del Rio, Cuba 1; Department of Telecommunications, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Pinar del Rio University, Pinar del Rio, Cuba 2; Manager at Build and Integrate, Telesur, Paramaribo, Suriname 3 Abstract This work intends to make an evaluation or analysis of optical fiber access networks as a means of high speed data transmission. We will describe the different types of fiber optic access networks such as the FTTx, PON, EFM networks, among other networks that are of great importance today. Keywords: network, access, fiber optics, internet, data communication, technology Introduction The purpose of this research article is to give resources interconnected with each other, a broad insight in the technologies of managed in some way, interacting to meet the broadband networks, specifically, fiber optic needs of the users who use it. access networks. In this work PON and FTTx networks are the main focus as they are of Broadband great importance in the evolution of access The term broadband commonly refers to networks. The first access networks were high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be made up of copper by means of a Switched simply defined as a fast connection to the Telephone Network (PSTN). Currently other internet that is always on. It allows a user to technologies like fiber optics allow a huge send emails, surf the web, download images and music, watch videos, join a web increase in access bandwidth. 2 conference, and much more. Definitions Telecommunications network Access network Telecommunications refers to the exchange An access network encompasses connections of information by electronic and electrical that extend from a central communication means over a significant distance. A switching facility (called the central office) to complete telecommunication arrangement is individual businesses, organizations, and made up of two or more stations equipped homes. This network connects subscribers to with transmitter and receiver devices. 1 A a particular service provider and, through the telecommunications network as a set of carrier network, to other networks such as the Internet.3 Correspondence to: Serge Dompig, University of Pinar del Río, Cuba, e-mail: [email protected], Tel: 08978285 Available on-line June 7 , 2017 1 What Is Telecommunications? - Definition from Techopedia. Techopedia.com. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5570/telecommunications, accessed november 4, 2016. 2 What Is Broadband? | Broadband for America. http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/about-broadband/broadband, accessed november 4, 2016. 3 *Gerd keiser (2006) FTTX Concepts and Applications. John Wiley & Sons. U.S.A. pag 4, 173. Acad J Sur 2017 (8) 708-714 709 S. Dompig Optical fiber of homes and businesses being served by the Optical fiber is a means of transmission, network. PON architecture is further explained usually used in data networks, consisting of a in paragraph 3. very thin wire of transparent material, glass or plastic materials, by which pulses of light Fiber-to-the-node allows the provision of representing the data to be transmitted are sent. broadband services, such as high-speed Optical fiber consists of two concentric Internet. High-speed communications proto- circles. The inner circle is the nucleus, which cols, such as broadband cable access or some has a high degree of purity, i.e. it ensures form of digital subscriber line (DSL) are used minimal attenuation when transmitting between the cabinet and the clients. FTTN is information. The outer circle is the lining, capable of delivering 20 to 25 Mbps which covers the environment. (Megabytes per second) to customers, which allows the simultaneous delivery of services, FTTx such as four streams of TV programming, an FTTx (Fiber-to-the-x or Fiber-to-x) is a HDTV channel, and Internet access.* (See generic term to designate any broadband Figure 2). access over Optical Fiber that totally or partially replaces the access loop copper. The FTTx acronym originates as generalization of the different configurations deployed (FTTN, FTTC, FTTB, FTTH), these being the most important. (See Figure 1). Figure 2: FTTn Access Network. FTTc FTTc, for fiber-to-the-curb or fiber-to-cabinet, describes running optical fiber cables from central office equipment to a communication switch located within 1000 ft (about 300 m) of a home or enterprise. Coaxial cable, twisted- pair copper wires, optical fiber lines, or some other transmission medium is used to connect the curbside equipment to customers in a Figure 1: FTTx Access Network building. FTTc broadband comes in two variants which offer a downstream line speed FTTn of 80 mbps or 40 mbps but the actual FTTn , for fiber-to-the-neighborhood or node, maximum speed of the service will be slightly 4 refers to a PON architecture in which optical slower than this at around 78 / 39Mbps. fiber cables run to within 3000ft (about 1 km) 4 Thinkbroadband | Fibre Broadband (FTTC / FTTH) Guide. http://www.thinkbroadband.com/guide/fibre-broadband.html, accessed november 2, 2016. Acad J Sur 2017 (8) 708-714 Fiber Optic Access Networks (FTTX, PON, EFM) 710 FTTc refers to the installation and use of fiber with fiber optic lines. Such wiring would give optic cable directly to the curbs or sidewalks us very high bandwidth and make services near houses or any business environment as a possible like VoD (video on demand) and replacement for ordinary telephone service. online multimedia presentations that arrive Think about eliminating all the phone lines you without noticeable delay. (See Figure 3). see in your neighborhood and replacing them Figure 3: FTTc Access Network. FTTb A subset of FTTH is fiber-to-the-building (FTTb). FTTb is used primarily in densely populated settings in which MDUs(multiple dwelling units) such as apartment buildings, condominiums and hotels are prevalent. Fiber is terminated in the building where the final subscribers of the building or the house are accessed by the VDSL2 (Very high bit rate Digital Subscriber Line 2) technology on copper or Gigabit Ethernet over twisted pair Figure 4: FTTb Access Network. 5 CAT5 . In this way, fiber laying can be done progressively, in less time and at a lower cost, 6 advanced services, such as triple play, reusing the subscriber's infrastructure. (See telephony, broadband internet and television, figure 4). to households and business subscribers. The FTTh technology proposes the use of optical FTTh fiber to the user's home. The access network FTTh is based on the use of optical fiber cables between the subscriber and the last distribution and Optical distribution systems adapted to node can be realized with one or two Optical this technology for the distribution of fibers dedicated to each user creating an Active Optical Network (AON) or a Passive Optical 5 What Is an Ethernet Extender? | Ethernet Extender PoE Extender Secure Encryption. https://ethernetextender.com/what-are-ethernet-extenders/, accessed november 4, 2016. 6 Piyush Selvalia. (2016). Driving the New FTTHybrid | OSP Magazine. http://www.ospmag.com/issue/article/driving-new-ftthybrid, accessed november 4, 2016. Acad J Sur 2017 (8) 708-714 711 S. Dompig Network (PON) using a tree structure with a logies and point-to-multipoint(P2MP), which fiber on the network side and several fibers on is often combined with a passive optical the user side. These two most widely used network (PON) technology. 7 (See figure 5). topologies are point-to-point(P2P), which typically uses Ethernet transmission techno- Figure 5: P2P topology (5A) and P2MP topology (5B) Pon Technology The use of these systems considerably reduces The PON is a point-to-multipoint network over costs and they are used in FTTh networks.8 a passive fiber plant comprising fibers and A passive Optical Network is basically formed splitters/combiners, and with active equipment by: at the ends. Similar to active Ethernet network, • An OLT [Optical Line Terminal] module passive optical network has a point to located at the central node. multipoint network architecture as shown in • An optical splitter. figure 5A. However, it does not require outside • Several ONUs (Optical Network plant electronics. Rather than placing an Units)/ONTs (Optical Network Ter- Ethernet switch at the outside plant, it uses a minals) that are located at the user's passive optical splitter instead. PON allows to premises. eliminate all the active components existing between the server and the client introducing Transmission is then performed between the in its place passive optical components to OLT and the ONU communicating through the guide the traffic by the network. The optical splitter, whose function depends on whether branching component (Optical Splitter) is the the channel is up or down. In short, PON works key technology that allows the access network in broadcast mode using optical splitters or to be electrically passive. buses. (See figure 6). 7 FTTH Handbook (2016) 7th edition. D&O Committee. Europa. 8. Pag. 14. 8 Lin, Chinlon (2006) Broadband Optical Access Networks and Fiber to the Home. John Wiley & Sons. England. Pag 25-26. Acad J Sur 2017 (8), 708-714 Fiber Optic Access Networks (FTTX, PON, EFM) 712 Figure 6: PON Access Networks 155.52 Mb/s or 622.08 Mb/s while the upstream at 155.520 Mbps. By means of a wavelength-multiplexing EPON technology. EPON is developed scheme, all the components required for based on Ethernet technologies, and transmission in Upstream, Downstream and enables seamless integration with IP and RF video overlay are divided. Ethernet technologies with a capability of 1Gbps in both directions. Technologies of PON networks 9 10G EPON. With the necessity to There are three main types of PONs depending provide adequate downstream and on the data multiplexing scheme.