Gigabit-capable passive optical networks

(GPON): General characteristics

 ITU-T G.984.1
• This Recommendation describes a flexible optical fibre
access network capable of supporting the bandwidth
rates of 2.4 Gbit/s in the downstream direction and 1.2
Gbit/s and 2.4 Gbit/s in the upstream direction.

 This proposes the general characteristics for GPON

based on the operators requirement.
Architecture of the Optical access network

 OAN is the set of access links sharing the same

network-side interfaces and supported by optical access
transmission systems.
 The prominent access technologies are
 Digital subscriber loop (DSL),
 Hybrid fiber coax (HFC),
 Wireless fidelity (WiFi),
 Fiber-to-the-x (FTTX)
Fiber-to-the-x (FTTX)
 Fiber access systems are also referred to as Fiber-to-the-x
(FTTx) system, where ‘‘x’’ can be ‘‘home,’’ “building”, ‘‘curb,’’
‘‘premises,’’ etc.
 Increasing demand of high-bandwidth applications have
motivated the introduction of fiber to the home (FTTH) to
provide new high-speed services.

Fig. Network architecture

Passive Optical Network
 The optical section of a local access network system can be
either active or passive and its architecture can be either
point-to-point or point-to-multipoint.
 Passive optical network (PON) is one of the FTTH
implementations that has become a good solution for access
networks.
Reference configuration of GPON

Fig. Reference configuration for GPON

• Service Node interface:
The interface at reference points S/R and R/S is defined as
IFPON.
• User-network interface (UNI)
 It is a demarcation point between the responsibility of the
service provider and the responsibility of the subscriber.
 UNI is defined as the interface that is
described by a well-known standard;
includes a physical layer aspect.
UNI Service
10BASE-T ([b-IEEE 802.3]) Ethernet
[b-ITU-T I.430] ISDN (BRI)
[b-ITU-T G.703] DS3, ATM, E1, E3

Examples of UNI and services

 Service-network interface (UNI)

UNI Physical Interface Service

1000BASE ([b-IEEE
- Ethernet
802.3])
[b-ITU-T G.965] V5.2 POTS, ISDN(BRI)
[b-ITU-T G.703] PDH, STM-1e DS3, ATM, E1, E3

• Logical reach is the maximum distance between ONU/ONT and OLT except
for the limitation of the physical layer.
In GPON, the maximum logical reach is defined as 60 km.

• Physical reach is the maximum physical distance between the ONU/ONT

and the OLT.
In GPON, two options are defined for the physical reach: 10 km and 20 km. It
is assumed that 10 km is the maximum distance over which FP-LD can be
used in the ONU for high bit rates such as 1.25 Gbit/sec above.
 Maximum mean signal transfer delay
 The mean signal transfer delay is the average of the
upstream and downstream delay values between reference
points.
 This value is determined by measuring round-trip delay and
then dividing by 2.
 Specifically, GPON system must have a maximum mean
signal transfer delay time of less than 1.5 ms between T-V.
Split ratio

• Optical splitter, also known as beam splitter, is one kind of

integrated waveguide optical power distribution device based
on a quartz substrate.
• A fiber splitter is one of the most important passive
components in the whole FTTH network system.
 There are two types of splitters in our current FTTH
application:
FBT Splitter
PLC Splitter
• PLC SPLITTER
Provides a better solution for applications with larger split
configurations.
The waveguides are fabricated by using lithography onto a
silica glass substrate, which allows for routing specific
percentages of light.
As a result, the PLC splitter offers very accurate splits with
minimal loss in an efficient package.
Protection on the PON section
• The delivery of high quality and highly reliable service requires
enhancement of survivability and network protection.
• There are two types of protection switching:
i) Automatic switching (fault detection-loss of signal, loss of
frame, signal degrade)
ii) Forced switching (administrative events - fibre rerouting,
fibre replacement ).
• The switching mechanism is generally realized by the OAM function,
therefore, the required OAM information field should be reserved in
the OAM frame.
• Upstream networking protection includes link aggregation group
and protection group.
• Downstream networking protection includes
Type A
Type B
Type C
Type D
Type A
• When the primary fibre fails, the services on the fibre transfers to the
secondary fibre.
• Signal loss or even frame loss is inevitable in the switching period
• When the disconnection occurs to the line from splitter to ONU, service
outage will occur and no backup happens.

Fig. Type A Fibre backup

 Type B
• OLT provides two GPON interfaces.
• This type protects the primary fibre, when the primary fibre fails,
the services on the fibre transfers to the secondary fibre.
• In this protection is provided over the major areas of concern, which
include feeder fibre and OLT equipment with separate OLT blades.
• Provides the automated switching capability but with an additional
PON port on the OLT.
• If the OLT or feeder fibre is unavailable, all subscribers on PON lose
service.

Fig. Type B OLT interface

backup
Type C
 Both the OLT and the ONT provides two GPON interfaces.
 This type is a kind of whole-network protection. Two routes are
provided between OLT and ONU, ensuring recovery of various
faults.
 When the primary PON port on the ONU fails, ONU
automatically transfers services to the secondary PON port.
 In this way, services goes upstream through the secondary
line and secondary port on the OLT. Basically, service outage
will not occur

Fig. Type C All-backup

Type D
• OLT provides two GPON interfaces.
• Two routes are provided between OLT and ONU, ensuring
recovery of various faults, Including faults occurring on optical
splitters or the line.
• It supports using mixed ONUs in the network:
ONUs either with a single PON port or with two PON ports can
be used. Users can select them based on the actual needs.

Fig. Type D Mixed

backup