Redundancy strategies for a high splitting optically amplified passive optical network

High splitting, optically amplified, passive optical networks (SuperPONs) a re investigated in terms of redundancy provision and protection mechanisms. Options for redundancy, including the important special case of dual homin g, are detailed, and it is determined as to which of these options (duplica tion of the feeder and first distribution section, and N + 1 protection of the optical amplifiers in the amplified splitter) would be required to be p rovided to all attached users to facilitate appropriate availability of the basic telephony service. The distributed amplified splitter dual homing so lution is found to outperform the single amplified splitter solution in ter ms of its survivability. The protection mechanisms necessary to automatical ly switch to the redundant provision are discussed and it is seen that with the aid of suitable regular precautionary procedures protection switching can generally be provided rapidly (<50 ms). Finally an availability, and co st versus availability, study confirms the aforementioned redundancy assess ment for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) implementations. but shows fiber-to-the-c urb (FTTC) as needing additional redundancy.