UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, TAXILA

TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

“OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION”

ASSIGNMENT: 02
SUBMITTED TO:

ENGR. ALI WAQAR

SUBMITTED BY:

ILSA JAVED (19-TE-84)

QUESTION NO. 01:
Q1: Explain passive optical networks (PONs) in detail.

ANSWER:

PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK (PON):

A passive optical network, or PON, uses fiber-optic technology to deliver data from a single
source to multiple endpoints. “Passive” refers to the use of optical fiber cables connected to an
unpowered splitter, which in turn transmits data from a service provider network to multiple
customers. Technically, only the splitter is passive, because the network still needs electrical
power at the source and receiving ends to function.

There are both passive and active optical networks (AONs). The primary differences are the
number of fibers per user required and the splitter component used in PON architectures. AONs
use a powered (or “active”) router or aggregated switch to distribute data from service provider
to customers, and each user service requires a dedicated fiber and router/switch port. By contrast,
PONs use one router/switch port and a single fiber between router/switch and the passive splitter
to serve multiple subscribers, sharing the capacity of the wavelength.

A PON, then, uses fewer router ports and fiber connections to serve subscribers than an AON.
The PON architecture minimizes possible points of failure, making it ideal for service providers
needing to supply fast, reliable connectivity to homes, hospitals, hotels, resorts, campuses, and
other subscriber locations.

PON WORKING:

There are two main standards for PON architectures: Gigabit PON (GPON) and Ethernet PON
(EPON). Both have specifications for data transfer speeds of 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps. Since
communication flows from one source (service provider) to multiple subscribers, PON
architectures use point-to-multipoint links. Using a splitter, a single fiber-optic strand from an
optical line terminal (OLT) can be replicated across many branches to deliver service to 128
unique locations.

To set up a PON architecture, the service provider starts by building an optical fiber network.
The access end of this fiber network connects directly to clients, while the other end connects to
a router/switch using an OLT located in a service provider central office or point of presence
(POP). The OLT converts Ethernet traffic into PON traffic.

Keep in mind that optical networks transfer data using light beams transmitted through fiber-
optic cables. After data/light in the cable leaves the OLT, it travels to a beam splitter located
closer to subscribers. Using passive technology, the splitter replicates the light wavelengths and
directs them to an optical network unit (ONU) or an optical network terminal (ONT) closer to the
user service area. To accomplish this without electrical power, the PON splitter uses mirrors and
glass to refract the light to where it needs to go.

The ONU/ONT directs the fiber-optic wavelengths to one of several places near subscribers:

• Fiber to the home (FTTH)

• Fiber to the building (FTTB)
• Fiber to the curb (FTTC)
• Fiber to the neighborhood (FTTN)

QUESTION NO. 02:

Explain asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) in detail.

ANSWER:

ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE (ATM):

It is a high-speed, broadband transmission data communication technology that is based on
packet switching. It is a telecommunications standard that is defined by ANSI and ITU
(International Telecommunication Union) standards.

The ATM networks can carry user traffic such as telephony (voice), data, as well as video
signals. The ATM technology is developed for meeting the demands of Broadband Integrated
Services Digital Network and integrating telecommunication networks.

WORKING:
ATM is a switching technique that is used by telecommunication networks. The technique
utilizes asynchronous time-division multiplexing to encode data into tiny and fixed-sized cells. It
may be slightly different from its literal meaning – asynchronous.

It indicates that the ATM connections are predictable and easy to be taken control of. Hence, no
single data type or connection can monopolize the transmission path. That is different from
Ethernet or Internet.

These two kinds of networks use variable packet sizes for data or frames. Asynchronous transfer
mode is the core protocol that is used in the synchronous optical network backbone of the
integrated digital services network.
APPLICATION OF ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE:
It can be used as ATM WANs, multimedia virtual private networks and managed services, frame
relay backbone, residential broadband networks and carrier infrastructure for phones and private
line networks.

• ATM WANs: It can be used as a WAN to send cells over long distances. It can also be
used as a router serving as an end-point that has two stacks of protocol between the ATM
network and other networks.

• Multimedia virtual private networks and managed services: Asynchronous transfer mode
is helpful for managing ATM, LAN, voice and video services. Besides, it also helps in managing
full-service virtual private-networking including integrated access of multimedia.

• Frame relay backbone: Generally speaking, Frame relay backbone services are used as a
networking infrastructure for a series of data services. In addition, this service can enable frame
relay ATM service to Internetworking services.

• Residential broadband networks: ATM can supply networking infrastructure to the

establishment of residential broadband services to find some highly scalable solutions.

• Carrier infrastructure for phones and private line networks: If you want to make full use
of SONET/SDH fiber infrastructure, you can try building the ATM infrastructure that is used to
carry the telephonic and private-line traffic.

ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSFER MODE ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES:
The ATM networking stands out because of these advantages. At first, it offers high-speed, fast-
switched integrated data, voice, and video communication. Secondly, it can replace the existing
telephony networks infrastructure.

Thirdly, it can interoperable with standard LAN/WAN technologies. Besides, it is QoS oriented
and high speed. More importantly, it can enable effective use of network resources by using
bandwidth on demand concept.

Of course, it has some disadvantages as well. For example, it is overhead of cell header (5 bytes
per cell), has complex mechanisms to achieve QoS. The congestion can cause cell loss. An ATM
switch is very expensive compared with the LAN hardware. Since ATM technology is a
connection oriented one, the setup time and tear down time is longer than the time to use it.
QUESTION NO. 03:
Explain Ethernet PON (EPON) in detail.

ANSWER:

EPON:
EPON (Ethernet passive optical network) enables computer network connections over
telecommunications infrastructure. It is a “short haul” network that uses fiber optic cables,
Ethernet packets (instead of ATM cells), and a single Layer 2 network with a single protocol to
deliver internet access, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), and digital TV services in
metropolitan areas, among other uses.

10G EPON is fully compatible with other Ethernet standards, and requires no conversion or
encapsulation to connect to Ethernet-based networks on either the upstream or downstream end.
This technology connects seamlessly with any type of IP-based or packetized communications,
and, thanks to the ubiquity of Ethernet installations in homes, workplaces, and elsewhere, EPON
is generally very inexpensive to implement.

EPON is quickly supplanting copper cable technology, DSL, and other traditional broadband
access solutions. A standard EPON can currently support speeds up to 1.25Gbit/second;
advanced 10G-EPON technology, providing speeds up to 10Gbit/second, is quickly becoming
the benchmark.

PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORKS:

A passive optical network, or PON, is sometimes referred to as the “last mile” between a data or
internet service provider and the customer. These systems use fiber optic cables and passive
components such as splitters and combiners; no active components, like amplifiers or repeating
circuits, are required. The use of only passive components makes a PON significantly less
expensive than a network built on active components. However, this also results in a shorter
overall range of coverage due to limited signal strength—whereas active optical networks
(AONs) can reach over 60 miles, a PON is typically limited to roughly 12 miles.

In most PON setups, a point to multi-point network (P2MP) is created using a central optical line
terminal and multiple optical splitters to provide service for up to 128 users. An optical network
unit, or ONU, terminates the PON at a user’s location and communicates with an optical network
terminal (ONT) to connect the PON to a router, telephone, computer, and/or television.

SYMMETRIC & ASYMMETRIC 10G EPON:

There are two types of EPON: symmetric and asymmetric.
Symmetric EPON provides equal data rates in both upstream (from the user to the
server/provider) and downstream (from the server/provider to the user) directions. Asymmetric
EPON provides higher downstream data rates than upstream; asymmetric EPON usually operates
at 10Gbits/sec downstream and 1Gbit/sec upstream.

Usable Bandwidth:
EPON utilizes 25 percent of its bandwidth for encoding. That is, in a 1.25Gbit/second EPON
system (for example), 1Gbit/second of bandwidth is used to transfer data, while the remaining
0.25Gbit/second is reserved for encoding. (Similar to Fast Internet.)

The Efficiency of EPON:

EPON transmits data in variable-length packets of up to 1518 bytes, as specified by the IEEE
802.3 standard on which EPON is based. Other PON variations, notably GPON (gigabit passive
optical network), transmit data in fixed-length, 53-byte cells, making them inefficient for
transmitting data and traffic that is formatted according to IP. EPON’s variable-length packets
are tailor-made for IP traffic and can substantially reduce overhead compared to other, similar
technologies (EPON overhead is typically around 7.42 percent, while GPON overhead averages
roughly 13.22 percent). Additionally, EPON’s higher data-to-overhead ratio allows for high
utilization with low-cost optics.
Encryption & Network Protection:
EPON utilizes an AES-based encryption mechanism for both upstream and downstream
communications. It also provides vendor-specific and carrier-specific network protection,
including support for vendor-specific and carrier-specific operations, administration, and
maintenance (or OAM).

QUESTION NO. 04:

Explain Gigabit Ethernet PON (GPON) in detail.

ANSWER:

GPON:
The meaning of GPON is Gigabit Passive Ethernet Network. Passive Optical Network (PON) is
a system that delivers fiber optical cabling signals to the home or business (FTTx) with a point-
to-multipoint architecture. It allows users to access video, audio, Internet data, etc. There are
plenty of different standards of PON and GPON is exactly one of them. It is first put forward by
FSAN and completed in 2004.
MAIN FEATURES:
• The upstream and downstream speed is 1.2 Gbps and 2.4 Gbps.
• It protects users' data secure and private via encryption.
• Triple-play services: VoIP, Data and IPTV
• Long-reach coverage is up to 20km.
GPON WORKING:
GPON FTTH access network is composed of an optical line terminal (OLT), optical splitter and
optical network terminal (ONT). GPON can transmit ethernet, TDM (Time Division
Multiplexing) and ATM traffic. The OLT is responsible for converting the optical signals to
electrical signals and presents them to a core Ethernet switch. The optical splitter is used to split
the power of the signal. ONT is deployed at the customer's premises. It will receive the signal
sent from the optical splitter or will send the signals back to the OLT.

CHOOSING GPON NETWORKS:

GPON is a point-to-multipoint technology instead of a point-to-point one, which is superior to
the point-to-point Ethernet connections. This characteristic reduces the cost. With the
development of technology, FTTx is the best choice that can meet users' needs. Compared with
copper, there is less interference and safer. As for the difference between GPON and EPON,
GPON is a better choice for those who care more about bandwidth, QoS, and security.
APPLICATION OF GPON:
In accordance with the demand of FTTx and the GPON network standard, V-SOL has developed
a series of GPON routers including GPON ONU/ONT and GPON OLT. There are several types
of GPON devices for different needs and scenarios to provide services such as WiFi, CATV,
VOIP, etc.

QUESTION NO. 05:

Differentiate between EPON and GPON.

ANSWER:

GPON WORKING:

A GPON network is capable of transmitting ethernet, TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) as

well as ATM traffic. A GPON network consists of OLT (Optical Line Terminals), ONU (Optical
Network Unit), and a splitter. The splitter will divide the signal when needed. The OLT takes in
all of the optical signals in the form of beams of light from ONUs and will convert it to an
electrical signal. OLTs normally support up to 72 ports. An ONU connects to end users and will
send their signals back to the OLT. A GPON network can reach up to 20 km and provide service
up to 64 end users. GPON utilizes both upstream and downstream data by means of Optical
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM).

In downstream transmission, the lasers wavelength measures 1490 nm while the upstream
wavelength measures 1550 nm. A single mode optical fiber coming from a central office, runs to
a passive optical power splitter located near end users’ locations. The optical splitter will then
divide power into separate paths which can range from two to sixty four. From the optical
splitter, separate single mode fiber strands will run directly to the end user’s home, business,
school, etc. This transmission can reach up to 20 km starting from the central office running to
the user. With GPON transmitting downstream in a broadcast manner and upstream in a TDMA
(time division multiple access) manner, different bit rates are possible with 1.2 Gbit/s in
upstream and 2.4 Gbit/s in downstream is most common.

GPON SECURITY:

Due to GPON’s downstream broadcasting being sent from the OLT to all ONUs, someone can
reprogram their own ONU to capture incoming information that was meant for another ONU.
Not only can another ONU intercept data, but there can also be a fake OLT transmitting and
receiving data from multiple subscribers. The unknown attacker can now receive important data
being sent up and downstream such as important passwords. Due to this capability of
interception, GPONs recommendation G.984.3 shows mechanisms for security in which an
encrypted algorithm, Advanced Encryption Standard, can be used so it will be difficult for
information to be encrypted by using byte keys 128, 192 and 256.

EPON and GPON each have their own advantages. GPON is superior to EPON from the
performance index. However, EPON has the advantage of time and cost. GPON is catching up
and looking forward to the future broadband access market. GPON will be more suitable for
customers with high bandwidth, multi-service, QoS and security requirements and ATM
technology as the backbone.

GPON vs EPON: Data Rate:

GPON: GPON supports a variety of data rate levels, which can support asymmetric uplink and
downlink rates, downlink 2.5Gbps or 1.25Gbps, uplink 1.25Gbps or 622Mbps. Users can
determine uplink and downlink rates according to actual needs and select the corresponding
optical transceiver to improve the optical device value for money.

EPON: EPON provides fixed uplink and downlink data rate of 1.25Gbps, using 8b / 10b line
coding, and the actual rate of 1Gbps.

Conclusion: GPON is better than EPON

GPON vs EPON: Splitter Ratio:

GPON: GPON supports 1:32, 1:64, 1:128. GPON provides multiple selectivities, but its cost
advantage is not obvious. The maximum physical distance that a GPON system can support is 20
km when the optical splitting ratio is 1:16. When the optical splitting ratio is 1: 32, the maximum
physical distance should be 10 km.
EPON: EPON standard splitter ratio is 1:16~1:32. In fact, the EPON system can also achieve
higher splitter ratio, such as 1: 64,1: 128, EPON OLT can support more EPON ONU. The splitter
ratio is mainly limited by the performance of the optical module. A large splitter ratio can cause
the cost of the optical module to increase substantially. In addition, the PON insertion loss is 15-
18 dB, and the large splitter ratio reduces the transmission distance; too many users share
Bandwidth is also the cost of large splitter ratio.

Conclusion: equal

GPON vs EPON: QoS(Quality of Service):

GPON: GPON divides the service bandwidth allocation into four types. The priorities are
Fixed, Assured, Non-Assured, and Best Effort from highest priority to lowest priority. The DBA
defines a traffic container (T-CONT) as an uplink traffic scheduling unit, and each T-CONT is
identified by an Alloc-ID. Each T-CONT can contain one or more GEMPort-IDs.

• T-CONT is divided into five types of services. Different types of T-CONTs have
different bandwidth allocation modes to meet the different QoS requirements of
different service flows such as delay, jitter, and packet loss rate.

• T-CONT type 1 is characterized by a fixed bandwidth fixed time slot corresponding

to a fixed (Fixed) allocation, suitable for delay-sensitive services such as voice
services
• Type 2 is characterized by a fixed bandwidth but the slot is not guaranteed, the
corresponding guaranteed bandwidth (Assured) allocation, suitable for jitter less
demanding fixed-bandwidth services, such as video-on-demand services;
• Type 3 is characterized by a minimum guaranteed bandwidth and can dynamically
share the remaining bandwidth, and the maximum bandwidth constraints,
corresponding to non-guaranteed bandwidth -Assured), which is suitable for services
that have service assurance requirements and burst traffic, such as downloading
services.
• Type 4 is characterized by BestEffort and without bandwidth guarantee, which is
suitable for less delay and jitter requirements Of the business, such as WEB browsing
business;
• Type 5 is a combination of types, after the allocation of assurance and non-guaranteed
bandwidth, the extra bandwidth needs to make every effort to allocate.
EPON: EPON adds a 64-byte MPCP multipoint control protocol at the MAC layer Ethernet
header. MPCP controls the access to the P2MP point-to-multipoint topology through messages,
state machines, and timers to achieve dynamic bandwidth allocation for DBAs. MPCP involves
the allocation of time slots for ONU transmission, automatic discovery and joining of ONUs, and
reporting of congestion to higher layers to dynamically allocate bandwidth. MPCP provides
basic support for the P2MP topology. However, the protocol does not classify the priorities of
services. All services compete for bandwidth randomly. GPON has a better DBA and excellent
QoS services.

Conclusion: GPON is better than EPON

GPON vs EPON: Operate and maintain OAM:

GPON: GPON defines PLOAM (Physical Layer OAM) at the physical layer, OMCI (ONT
Management and Control Interface) at the upper layer, and OAM management at multiple levels.
PLOAM for data encryption, status detection, error monitoring and other functions. The OMCI
channel protocol is used to manage the services defined by the upper layer, including the ONU
function parameter set, the type and quantity of T-CONT services, QoS parameters, request
configuration information and performance statistics. The OMCI channel automatically notifies
the system of running events, Troubleshooting, performance and safety management.

EPON: EPON does not overemphasize OAM, simply defines the ONT far-end fault indication,
loopback, and link monitoring, and is optional support.

Conclusion: GPON is better than EPON

GPON vs EPON: Link layer encapsulation and multi-service support:

GPON: GPON is based on a completely new Transport Convergence (TC) layer that can
accommodate high-level diversity services as shown in Figure 1. ATM encapsulation and GFP
encapsulation (Universal Framing Protocol) is defined, and both can be chosen One of the
business packages. In view of the fact that ATM applications are not popular at the moment, a
GPON supporting only GFP encapsulation is therefore available. the lite device came into being,
it ATM from the protocol stack to reduce costs.

EPON: EPON follows the simple Ethernet data format, but adds a 64-byte MPCP point-to-
multipoint control protocol in the Ethernet header to realize the bandwidth allocation, bandwidth
round robin, automatic discovery and ranging in the EPON system. Much research has not been
done on the support of services other than data services such as TDM synchronization services.
Many EPON manufacturers have developed some non-standard products to solve this problem,
but they are not ideal and it is difficult to meet carrier-class QoS requirements.

Conclusion: For multi-service support, GPON’s TC layer is more powerful than EPON MPCP

EPON and GPON have their own advantages and disadvantages. GPON is better than EPON
from the performance index. However, EPON has the advantage of time and cost. GPON is
catching up and looking forward to the future broadband access market. GPON will be more
suitable for customers with high bandwidth, multi-service, QoS and security requirements and
ATM technology as the backbone. For cost-sensitive, QoS, security, less demanding customer
base, EPON has become dominant.