PDF of this tutorialEPONs are simpler, more efficient, and less expensive than alternate multiservice access solutions. Key advantages of EPONs include the following:
- Higher bandwidth: up to 1.25 Gbps symmetric Ethernet bandwidth
- Lower costs: lower up-front capital equipment and ongoing operational costs
- More revenue: broad range of flexible service offerings means higher revenues
Higher Bandwidth
EPONs offer the highest bandwidth to customers of any PON system today. Downstream traffic rates of 1 Gbps in native IP have already been achieved, and return traffic from up to 64 ONUs can travel in excess of 800 Mbps.
The enormous bandwidth available on EPONs provides a number of benefits:
- More subscribers per PON
- More bandwidth per subscriber
- Higher split counts
- Video capabilities
- Better QoS
Lower Costs
EPON systems are riding the steep price/performance curve of optical and Ethernet components. As a result, EPONs offer the features and functionality of fiber-optic equipment at price points that are comparable to DSL and copper T1s. Further cost reductions are achieved by the simpler architecture, more efficient operations, and lower maintenance needs of an optical IP Ethernet network.
EPONs deliver the following cost reduction opportunities:
- Eliminate complex and expensive ATM and SONET elements and dramatically simplify network architecture
- Long-lived passive optical components reduce outside plant maintenance
- Standard Ethernet interfaces eliminate the need for additional DSL or cable modems
- No electronics in outside plant reduces need for costly powering and right-of-way space
More Revenue
EPONs can support a complete bundle of data, video, and voice services, which allows carriers to boost revenues by exploiting the broad range and flexibility of service offerings available. In addition to POTS, T1, 10/100BASE-T, and DS–3, EPONs support advanced features, such as Layer-2 and -3 switching, routing, voice over IP (VoIP), IP multicast, VPN 802.1Q, bandwidth shaping, and billing. EPONs also make it easy for carriers to deploy, provision, and manage services. This is primarily because of the simplicity of EPONs, which leverage widely accepted, manageable, and flexible Ethernet technologies.
Revenue opportunities from EPONs include:
- Support for legacy TDM, ATM, and SONET services
- Delivery of new gigabit Ethernet, fast Ethernet, IP multicast, and dedicated wavelength services
- Provisioning of bandwidth in scalable 64 kbps increments up to 1 Gbps
- Tailoring of services to customer needs with guaranteed SLAs
- Quick response to customer needs with flexible provisioning and rapid service reconfiguration
| Features | Benefits |
| ONUs provide internal IP address translation, which reduces the number of IP addresses and interfaces with PC and data equipment over widely used Ethernet interfaces. | Customer configuration changes can be made without coordination of ATM addressing schemes that are less flexible. |
| ONU offers similar features to routers, switches and hubs at no additional cost. | Consolidates functions into one box, simplifies network, and reduces costs |
| Software-activated VLANs | Allows service providers to generate new service revenues |
| Implement firewalls at the ONU without need for separate PC | Allows service providers to generate new service revenues |
| Full system redundancy to the ONU provides high availability and reliability (five 9s). | Allows service providers to guarantee service levels and avoid costly outages |
| Self-healing network architecture with complete back-up databases | Allows rapid restoration of services with minimal effort in the event of failure |
| Automatic equipment self-identification | Facilitates services restoration upon equipment recovery or card replacement |
| Remote management and software upgrades | Simplifies network management, reduces staff time, and cuts costs |
| Status of voice, data, and video services for a customer or group of customers can be viewed simultaneously. | Facilitates better customer service and reduces cost of handling customer inquiries |
| ONUs have standard Ethernet customer interface. | Eliminates need for separate DSL and/or cable modems at customer premises and lowers cost |
Table 3. Summary of EPON Features and Benefits
