PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORKS - DEPLOYMENT AND EVOLUTIONARY POTENTIAL

This paper gives insight into the ways in which Passive optical networ ks may be economically deployed in a well-established copper infrastru cture. The telecommunications market demands service flexibility coupl ed with high reliability, which the copper network struggles to provid e. Particularly beneficial is the fibre-to-the-building approach, whic h is being followed in certain areas in Europe. This provides the nece ssary service flexibility and promises huge capacity upgrades for the future. Following initial deployments the opportunity exists to broade n the deployment throughout Europe. Ubiquitous solutions will enable t he benefits of fibre to be brought to smaller and smaller customers. B eyond this, the capacity and reach of fibre can be exploited more wide ly - restructuring the network to extend broad band services to all cu stomers.