The SuperPON demonstrator: An exploration of possible evolution paths for optical access networks

Recently, an optical broadband access network called APON (ATM-based Passiv e Optical Network) has been standardized and its commercial deployment star ted. This article discusses possible evolution scenarios for the APON syste m with respect to bit rate, range, and splitting factor, leading to the Sup erPON concept. Technical challenges encountered during the realization of t he SuperPON demonstrator within the European ACTS project PLANET are discus sed in detail. In addition, to illustrate when these technologies will beco me commercially viable, the major results of an economic-feasibility study are presented. Finally, the SuperPON integration in the pan-European trial of the ACTS PELICAN project is described.