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Current and future PON requires the full optical spectrum

Spectrum

The global Passive Optical Network (PON) market is set to undertake an incremental growth of $25.89 billion between 2022-2026, according to Technavio’s latest market research report. This is in large part due to the increased demand in data traffic and calls for greater bandwidth, but it can also be attributed to the birth of hybrid working following the global pandemic. When workers and families migrated to their homes for working, learning and socializing, an increased strain on operators’ fixed networks was experienced.

The focus continues to be on adopting technologies for short and long-haul optical data transmission, and fibre optic cabling supports this latest era of hyper connectivity. Communications service providers (CSPs) need to ensure that not only can they deliver this technology swiftly and reliably, but also ensure that the complete optical spectrum can be supported.

Increased global deployments

The need for full fibre access inside customers’ homes and businesses continues to mount. Operators are fielding renewed calls for high-quality, instantaneous and cost-effective PON technology. PON standards continue to be developed to meet bandwidth demands, with numerous generations of PON introduced over the years. These next-generation PON deployments continue to be commonplace across the EMEA, APAC and North America.

Operators therefore need a high-capacity network that can operate outside of the present standard ranges and offer the future-proofed connectivity that end-users have come to expect.

Continued evolution of PON

The optical spectrum begins at 1260 nm to 1265 nm at the original wavelength O-band used for data transmission, up to 1625 and 1675 nm at the long wavelength L-band and ultra-long wavelength U-band used for optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) network monitoring. Subscriber bandwidth demands continue to be a challenge for operators, and access network systems must evolve to address this accordingly.

This can be achieved through the full use of transmission bands across the wavelength spectrum.

 

 

Measuring network health

It is vital that operators’ monitor trends and measure network health. This can only be achieved by utilizing the entire wavelength spectrum. Fibre network visibility helps operators identify the cause of an outage and establish whether that has been caused by the network, software or applications that are being run. This is due to the multiple cloud locations and traditional local deployments. This instant analysis and end-to-end view will help operators protect their networks, reduce costs and avoid costly downtime and any wane in productivity. These preventative measures can be taken by effectively monitoring Data Centre Interconnect (DCI) and access networks. Through protection of the DCI network, when fibre breaks or degradation occurs, teams are notified and this limits the effect on daily operations. Teams can also locate any breaches or fibre taps, and have their information secured and protected. This results in significantly lower network repair costs and OPEX savings can be realized.

By using the 1650 – 1675 nm wavelength speed of PON, operators can define optimum routes to travel.

Secure, safe and reliable data transmissions

Businesses require data transmissions that are secure, safe and reliable. But if the entire optical spectrum is too crowded or congested, then utilizing the longer wavelengths within the spectrum may be deemed more risky and less secure. Attention must shift to offering solutions that offer a reduced level of risk, as well as the ability to utilize the entire spectrum and have more space.

Bend-insensitive single mode fibres, including G.657.A2 can provide the bend immunity desired. These fibres are ideally suited for current and future PON. They can secure the entire optical spectrum when operators require transmissions at the longer wavelengths (1580nm or above) thanks to reduced losses directly from macro-bends and micro-bends. Not only must operators turn their attentions to unlocking the entire optical spectrum, but they must look at using single mode fibres, such as ITU-T G.657.A2, to help boost productivity, security and effectively monitor data trends and network health.

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