Is Super PON really

a game changer for FTTx?

TECHNOLOGY

Google is working on a ‘Super PON’ architecture that - according to Google - may improve Fibre to the Home business cases. But can this architecture really contribute to better economic case for fibre?

Adrian Amezcua Correa

OPTICAL FIBRE PRODUCT LINE MANAGER, PRYSMIAN GROUP

First, let’s take closer look at the concepts behind Super PON. Existing 802.3 10Gbps PON fibre technologies offers a reach of 20km to the Central Office. However, Super PON can bridge distances of up to 50 km with 1:64 split ratio. As a result, each Central Office can cover a larger area and more subscribers. In theory, four Central Offices may be capable of covering an area that now requires 15-20.

Super PON supports 16 or more channels using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to multiplex multiple channels over a single fibre. Super PON technology requires tuneable lasers, amplifiers and Quasi-coherent receivers, instead of cost effective lasers and direct detection receivers used in conventional PON architectures. This makes it possible to receive and reach longer distances and use fewer fibres.

Where current technology used by Google can service 64 subscribers, Super PON can handle 1,024. According to Google, a conventional PON network utilizing 144F feeder cables, will require 24F feeder cables in a SuperPON architecture. This allows Google to use micro-trenching techniques instead of regular trenching techniques requ for Greenfield applications. However, it may also be used to reduce the number of Central Offices in a given area.

Google is deploying its implementation ahead of a possible ratification of the standard. Super PON standardization is being discussed since January 2018 with a presentation at the IEEE 802 New Ethernet Applications group and IEEE 802.3 has also approved the formation of a Super PON Study Group. Super PON has also been presented to both ITU-T and FSAN, as a potential extension of NG-PON2.

“There are, however, reasons to assume that Super PON doesn’t necessarily improve the business case for FTTH,” adds Adrian Amezcua Correa, Optical Fibre Product Line Manager, at Prysmian Group. “The fast adoption of Ethernet technologies is largely based in volume, and Super PON doesn’t appear to be a high volume approach. Super PON will require costly transceivers, which may be 10x to 100x more expensive than those used in conventional PON and quasi-coherent receivers are not available in large scale. So, whether Super PON will be standarized by IEEE, adopted and really help improve the deployment of FTTH remains to be seen!”

First, let’s take closer look at the concepts behind Super PON. Existing 802.3 10Gbps PON fibre technologies offers a reach of 20km to the Central Office. However, Super PON can bridge distances of up to 50 km with 1:64 split ratio. As a result, each Central Office can cover a larger area and more subscribers. In theory, four Central Offices may be capable of covering an area that now requires 15-20.

Super PON supports 16 or more channels using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to multiplex multiple channels over a single fibre. Super PON technology requires tuneable lasers, amplifiers and Quasi-coherent receivers, instead of cost effective lasers and direct detection receivers used in conventional PON architectures. This makes it possible to receive and reach longer distances and use fewer fibres.

Where current technology used by Google can service 64 subscribers, Super PON can handle 1,024. According to Google, a conventional PON network utilizing 144F feeder cables, will require 24F feeder cables in a SuperPON architecture. This allows Google to use micro-trenching techniques instead of regular trenching techniques requ for Greenfield applications. However, it may also be used to reduce the number of Central Offices in a given area.

Google is deploying its implementation ahead of a possible ratification of the standard. Super PON standardization is being discussed since January 2018 with a presentation at the IEEE 802 New Ethernet Applications group and IEEE 802.3 has also approved the formation of a Super PON Study Group. Super PON has also been presented to both ITU-T and FSAN, as a potential extension of NG-PON2.

“There are, however, reasons to assume that Super PON doesn’t necessarily improve the business case for FTTH,” adds Adrian Amezcua Correa, Optical Fibre Product Line Manager, at Prysmian Group. “The fast adoption of Ethernet technologies is largely based in volume, and Super PON doesn’t appear to be a high volume approach. Super PON will require costly transceivers, which may be 10x to 100x more expensive than those used in conventional PON and quasi-coherent receivers are not available in large scale. So, whether Super PON will be standarized by IEEE, adopted and really help improve the deployment of FTTH remains to be seen!”