-
Are passive optical networks expensive
The near-universal adoption of passive optical network (PON) technologies in the fiber-to-the-home market has driven the product pricing from premium “bleeding-edge” down to commodity. With tens of millions of ONTs shipping to the carriers each year, prices continue to fall while. In essence, a PON is a fiber-optic system that delivers data from a single source to multiple endpoints using only unpowered devices for signal distribution, a key differentiator from systems that rely on electronic equipment throughout the network. In practice, PONs are typically used for the last mile between Internet service providers (ISP) and their customers. The "passive" in its name refers to its use of unpowered optical splitters to divide and direct the signal, which simplifies the network. As complexity and bandwidth demands go up, so do costs: More cabling, routers and switches are needed in environments like hotels, corporate and university campuses, and healthcare facilities so their networks can keep up. The concept is simple: a centrally located optical line terminal (OLT) transmits to hundreds or thousands of optical network terminals (ONTs) across the local building or.
[PDF Version]
-
The role of optical fiber cables in communication networks
is used by telecommunications companies to transmit telephone signals, Internet communication and cable television signals. It is also used in other industries, including medical, defense, government, industrial and commercial. In addition to serving the purposes of telecommunications, it is used as light guides, for imaging tools, lasers, hydrophones for seismic waves, SONAR, and as sensors to measure pressure and temperature.