University of Engineering and Technology,

Taxila

Department of Telecom Engineering

Optical Fiber Communication

Assignment # 02

Submitted To: Dr. Ali Waqar Azim

Submitted By: Ifra Waqas
Roll Number: 19-TE-98
Section : Beta
Question No#01

Explain Passive Optical Networks (PONs) in detail?

PON takes advantage of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), which means using one
wavelength for downstream traffic and one wavelength for upstream traffic on a single fiber.
Both EPON and GPON operate similarly since they are a type of PON, but there are
differences.

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.

While there are numerous subtle contrasts, a reasonable qualification between dynamic
optical systems networking and PON topology is PON's utilization of a method that
disseminates a solitary signal to different branches through unpowered devices called optical
beam splitters.

PONs Working:

There are two main standards for PON architectures:

Gigabit PON (GPON) and Ethernet PON (EPON).

GPON provides:
 Up to 2.5 Gbps
 Quality of Service (QoS) full business protection and advanced security 
 Full operations, administration and management (OAM) functions
 Ethernet access to user

 EPON provides:
 Data rates of 1 Gbps upstream and downstream 
 Access to data like Internet, voice, and video service.
In PONs there are OLTs and ONTs.

In a PON network, a device called an optical line terminal (OLT) is placed at the end of the
network. A single fiber optic cable is connected from OLT to unpowered (passive) optical
beam splitter, which multiplies the signal and relays it to many optical network terminals
(ONTs). End user devices such as PCs and telephones are connected to the ONTs.

PON Types:

Passive Optical Networks consist of following types: -

• APON (ATM Passive Optical Networks)

• BPON (Broadband PON)

• EPON (Ethernet PON)

• GE-PON (for Gigabit Ethernet PON)

• GPON (Gigabit Ethernet PON)

Question No#02

Explain Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) in detail?

It is a broadband data transmission system that operates at high speeds and is based on packet

switching. It is an ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and ANSI-defined

telecommunications standard. The ATM networks are capable of transporting user traffic like

voice, data, and video signals. The Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network and the

integration of telecommunication networks drive the development of ATM technology.

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 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:

 ATM WANs.

 Multimedia virtual private networks and managed services.

 Frame relay backbone.

 Residential broadband networks.

 Carrier infrastructure for phones and private line networks.

Benefits of ATM include the following:

• It is optimized to transport voice, data and video i.e. single network for everything.
• It is used for mixed traffic, real-time and non real time traffic types.
• It is easy to integrate with LAN, MAN and WAN network types i.e. seamless
integration.
• It is QoS oriented and high speed oriented.
• It enables efficient use of network resources using bandwidth on demand concept.
• It uses simplified network infrastructure.
Potential drawbacks or limitations of ATM are as follows:
• Overhead of cell header (5 bytes per cell)
• Complex mechanisms are used to achieve QoS.
• Congestion may cause cell losses
• ATM switch is very expensive compare to LAN hardware. Moreover, ATM NIC is
more expensive compare to Ethernet NIC.
• As ATM is connection oriented technology, the time required for connection setup
and tear down is larger compare to time required to use it.

Question No#03

Explain Ethernet PON (EPON) in detail.

Ethernet PON (EPON) is a PON-based network that carries data traffic encapsulated in
Ethernet frames (defined in the IEEE 802.3 standard). It uses a standard 8b/10b line coding (8
user bits encoded as 10 line bits) and operates at standard Ethernet speed. EPON is a point-to-
multipoint technology that delivers 1 Gbps upstream and downstream in FTTH and FTTP
networks.
Networks with GPON are the perfect solution for environments with multiple separated
nodes/points or buildings because the technology reduces costs and infrastructure while
increasing bandwidth. It provides 2.5 GB/s of downstream bandwidth and 1.25 GB/s
upstream divided by the split ratio to each customer delivering a customisable, high capacity
fibre network for forms of IP based services.

Symmetric & Asymmetric 10G EPON

There are two types of EPON:

1. Symmetric
2. 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. 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.

GPON stands for Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network (PON). GPON uses
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) for voice, Ethernet for data, and proprietary
encapsulation for voice. This means that it uses fixed-sized cells instead of variably sized
packets of data. It offers faster Gbps than EPON (Ethernet passive optical network) on
downstream and upstream bandwidths.
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 utilizes both upstream and downstream data by means of Optical Wavelength

Division Multiplexing (WDM).

The main optical transmitter, called the OLT (Optical Line Terminal) is located within the

telecommunications operator building, the central office. A laser in the OLT injects the

photons from the central office to a fibre-optic cable made of glass and plastic that ends at a

passive optical splitter. The splitter breaks the single signal from the central office into

numerous signals that may eventually be distributed to up to 64 customers. The number of

customers served by one laser is a result of the operator’s engineering criteria, which might

choose to lower the number, very often to 32 customers.

Question No#05

Highlight the main differences between EPON and GPON?

EPON stands for Ethernet passive optical network. EPON uses Ethernet packets instead of
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells. EPON also uses Internet Protocol (IP) to carry
data, voice, and video data. It generally delivers 1G symmetrical bandwidth, which makes it a
popular choice. 

GPON stands for Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network. GPON uses ATM for voice,
Ethernet for data, and proprietary encapsulation for voice. It offers faster Gbps than EPON on
downstream and upstream bandwidths.

The Differences:

 GPON is purposely built as a point-to-mulitpoint protocol. 

 EPON calls upon Ethernet to function the same as GPON. 

In other words, GPON is efficient and EPON is not. 

Why Choose GPON?

GPON gives the end user the ability to consolidate multiple services onto a single fibre
transport network. This is the key reason why someone would opt for GPON over other
technologies.

GPON provides for a large range of benefits that enable rapid, flexible, mass‐market fibre

deployments at the lowest possible cost of ownership and rollout.

 GPON supports triple – play services, providing competitive all-services solutions.

 GPON supports high-bandwidth transmission to break down the bandwidth bottleneck
of the access over twisted pair cables.
 GPON supports the long-reach (up to 20 km) service coverage to overcome the
obstacle of the access technology over twisted pair cables and reduce the network
nodes.
 With complete standards and high technical requirements, GPON supports integrated
services in a good way.
 GPON is a fully optical architecture option that offers the best of all worlds.