PON Technology – A Shift in Building Network Infrastructure

Bob Matthews Technical Manager

CommScope Canada

The Evolution to PON In 1980s -1990s, we had: • Dial up modems – The best data rate we could get

from home…. 56Kbps • Cable TV • Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)

15 years later, Convergence brought us a single connection to the outside world, that supported all of those “old” services in New ways, at significantly higher data rates…

Service Providers deployed thousands of miles of Optical cable into their Backbone network.

So, what is PON (or POL)?

• A passive optical network (PON) is a telecommunications network that uses point to multipoint fiber to the premises in which unpowered optical splitters are used to enable a single optical fiber to serve multiple premises. A PON consists of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) at the service provider's central office and a number of Optical Network Units (ONUs) near the end users. A PON reduces the amount of fiber and central office equipment required compared with point to point architectures. A passive optical network is a form of fiber-optic access network.

credit – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Definition:

Outdoor Fiber To The “x”

Passive Optical LANs (POL)

OLT

Service Provider

Network(s)

FTTH

FTTmdu

FTTB

ONT

ONT

ONT

Data & Video ONT Single Family

Residence

Vertical PON

Vertical PON

Vertical PON

Gateway

Multi-Tenant

Ethernet ONT

OLT

Businesses

Router / Switch

PBX

E1/T1

Ethernet

ONT

PON History Year Development 1995 FSAN (Full Service Access Network) working group begins working on FTTH

ITU does additional work and releases the G.983 Standard based on ATM PON (APON).

Downstream speed – 622MBps (OC-12); Upstream – 155Mbps (OC-3) typical

~1998 BPON (or Broadband PON) Standard released later

BPON was the most widely deployed form PON, it integrated WDM to support RF Analog signals

BPON supported the transport of POTS, ISDN, Data, Cable TV, Video on Demand LAN Interconnection, Video Conferencing

2001-2002 BPON was the defacto standard

2003 ITU ratifies and releases the G.984 standard for Gigabit PON (GPON)

GPON supports 2.448Gbs (OC-48) downstream, 1.244Gbs upstream

GPON uses either ATM or GEM (GPON Encapsulation Method) transport

PON History cont’d Year Development 2004 IEEE release the Ethernet in the First Mile standard 802.3ah

EPON uses standard 802.3 Ethernet frames

Downstream = Upstream = 1.25Gbs

EPON is designed for Data centric networks, and supports Voice, data and video services.

802.3av (10GE-PON) is ratified as an amendment.

10G-EPON supports 10/1Gbs simultaneously downstream

By 2005, Verizon and SBC had rolled out over 800,000 subscribers to their Fiber to the Home networks.

Fiber Advantages over Copper Infrastructure for the POL

Fiber Cable has shown to be more advantageous compared to Copper solutions in a number of ways:

• Distance: whether Multimode or Single mode fiber, transmission distance is significantly longer than all Category rated cable solutions

• Bandwidth: Unlimited (maybe), but at a minimum significantly higher than Category 6A, or even emerging Category 8

• Reliability: not susceptible to corrosion • Reduced Power Needs: Optical interfaces use less power, compared to Copper NICs

Passive Optical LANs (POL) are ideal solutions for new Infrastructure builds and Upgrades, offering:

• CAPEX and OPEX Savings • Reduced Equipment costs (fewer Aggregation switches), • Reduced Cooling needs (reduced HVAC handlers)

• Future Proof upgrade path to higher Bandwidths • Guaranteed Bandwidth: using a Centralized switch is more efficient compared to a

traditional layered active switch model.

The Technology of a POL or PON ONT

ONT

ONT

ONU

ONU

ONU

OLT

User 1

User 2

User 3 Optical Line

Terminal Passive Optical Splitter

Optical Network

Unit

Single Mode Fiber

Network Device

Category Cable

Central Office Outside Plant

The Technology of a POL or PON ONT

ONT

ONT

ONU

ONU

ONU

OLT

User 1

User 2

User 3 Optical Line

Terminal Passive Optical Splitter

Optical Network

Unit

Single Mode Fiber

Network Device

Category Cable

Head End InBuilding or OSP

Down-Stream – Point to Multi-Point

Category Cable

Downstream Broadcast All Data goes to all ONUs, the ONU address controls the downstream data.

Optical Line Terminal

Passive Optical Splitter

Optical Network

Unit

Network Device

OLT

ONU

ONU

ONU

User 1

User 2

User 3

Up-Stream – Time Division Multiplex Access

Upstream TDMA Operation ONUs send information to the OLT in a specific time window/slot

Optical Line Terminal

Passive Optical Splitter

Optical Network

Unit

Network Device

User 1

User 2

User 3

Category Cable

ONU

ONU

ONU

OLT

WHY POL?

42.12

32.01

10.19

8.45 4.35 2.88

email Web HTTP File Transfer Online Conference Instant Messaging other

Application Usage

Data courtesy of IBM

Traffic Types Consider This!

Application Actual Bandwidth

VoIP Phone ~ 100Kbps

Cloud Access 50 ~200 Kbps

Web Browsing 50 ~300 Kbps

eMail 50 ~ 500 Kbps

Virtual Desktop (VDI) 500 Kbps ~ 2 Mbps

Video Conferencing ~ 2 Mbps

Online Video ~ 2 Mbps

Video Surveillance ~ 6 Mbps

Data courtesy of IBM

Bandwidth Usage

0.2%

46.3% 40.3%

13.1%

0.1% 0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

0-1 Mbps 1 Mbps - 10 Mbps 10 Mbps - 50 Mbps 50 Mbps - 80 Mbps 80 Mbps - 200 Mbps

Bandwidth Usage

Per

cent

age

of U

ser P

opul

atio

n

Data courtesy of IBM

Observations

• ~ 74% of traffic was Email and Web Surfing • ~ 95% of the Users used less than 80 Mbps in

total Bandwidth (86% used less than 50Mbps) • That most applications do not require the Bandwidth

we think • Most traffic was passed through the Core Router, very

little peer to peer traffic • Enterprise traffic is Hub and Spoke based, generally

applications reside in a Central Data Center • HTTP traffic increases as Cloud services increase • The Usage patterns which give rise to decentralized computing and LANs are shifting

back to a centralized model with a different network architecture

Traditional LAN Architecture

End User

Access Layer

Aggregation Layer

Distribution Layer

Core Switch Layer

Dis

tanc

e Li

mite

d • Based on Layered Active Switches • Access Layer passes traffic up to Distribution layer, then

up to the Core Switch and routed to End Destination • If Source and Destination share a similar layer the traffic is

switched at that layer and not passed further up • Physical Limitations exist with this architecture:

• End Users cannot be more than 100 M (including Patch cords) from the serving Access Layer switch for Copper cabling

• Similar limitation exists between Layered Switches if Copper Cabling is used

• If Multimode Fiber is used, distance is limited by Fiber type and Bandwidth

• Telecom Closets must be within these guidelines to ensure Standards are met

• Copper cabling must be kept a minimum distance away from power cables

• Operational and Management challenges include: • All VLANs, Priorities, QoS, CoS etc, must be

provisioned in ALL switches and maintained at all levels.

Passive Optical LAN Architecture • Passive Optical LANs overcome the limitations found in

Copper based implementations 1. Significant reduction in Active equipment,

resulting in a flatter network topology 2. OLT can function as Core Switch and /or

Distribution Layer Switch 3. Distance limits are eliminated, POLs support

distance up to 20Kms 4. Elimination of Aggregation Switches reduces

/eliminates power and cooling at these locations 5. Potential Elimination of Telecom Closet space,

providing more work space 6. Passive Splitters require no HVAC systems 7. Single OA&M system to provision VLANs, CoS,

etc 8. Auto-Provisioning of ONTs based on profiles 9. Passive Splitters provide wide range of split

ratios (1:4, 1:8,1:32, 1:64, etc) End User

Access Layer

Aggregation Layer

Distribution Layer

Core Switch Layer OLT

S

S

ONT

X

Why EPON ? – GPON vs. EPON Layering

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Layer 5

PON - PHY

Ethernet

IP

TCP-UDP etc

GTC TC Frame GTC sub-layer

ATM cell GEM frame

Various services

T1/E1 TDM

POTS Data Video

PON - PHY

IP

TCP-UDP etc

Ethernet Frame MAC Layer

T1/E1 TDM

POTS Data Video

Networks are about Efficiency!

Both EPON and GPON recognized the need to evolve PON to being a Gigabit capable solution for transporting Ethernet IP traffic.

Both utilize a common optical infrastructure, but very different in execution. EPON extended native Ethernet to support the PON P2MP architecture, while GPON wished to extend the life of GFP framed SONET/SDH

GPON Telco legacy supporting legacy telecom SONET networking • GPON link rates match ITU standards like OC3, OC12, etc • North American Telcos SONET/GPON • Equipment based on ITU/SONET typically more expensive/complicated

EPON is designed to support Ethernet and IP

• EPON link rates match IEEE standards like 1Gbs, 10Gbs, etc • North American Cable Operators adopting EPON • EPON is widely deployed world-wide • Ethernet and IP scale reducing costs and driving investment in EPON systems

EPON & GPON Summary

Where Does PON fit?

Email WEB

Browsing

File Transfer

(FTP) VoIP Cloud

Services Video (IPTV or

CCTV) Video

Conf’ing

Residential √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~

Hospitality √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~

Residence/ Dorms √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~

Condos √ √ ~ √ √ √ ~

Retail Space √ √ x √ √ √ x

Commercial (Office Space) √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Industrial Space √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Case Study – Traditional vs. POL Design

Hotel Design Requirements: • 42 rooms /Floor • (4) Cat 6 drops/room ( 168/Floor) • 5 Floors • Total building length – 300 ft. • Main Equipment Room on Main Floor • (1) Telecom Room per Floor

TR

Traditional Network Design for Hotel/Dorm

• 4 Category 6 Cables w/ Patch cords • 4 Category 6 Switch Ports in Telecom Closet

• Bandwidth Available: 1GBps • Bandwidth needed: < 100Mbps to support IPTV, VoIP, Internet Access

PON Design for Hotel/Dorm

• 1 Fiber Strand used from Splitter • Copper Patch cords

• Bandwidth Available: 1GBps • Bandwidth needed: < 100Mbps to support IPTV, VoIP, Internet Access

Conventional Design Wisdom Conventional Wisdom says:

Per Floor: • 168 Cat 6 Drops (4x42) • (4) – 48 port Switches • (4) – 48 port Patch Panels • (1) – Fiber Patch Panel • (1) – Rack

Main Equipment Room (1st Floor): • 168 Cat 6 Drops (4x42) • (4) – 48 port Switches • (4) – 48 port Patch Panels • (1) – Core Switch/Router • (1) – Fiber Patch Panel • (1) – Rack

PON Design PON Design:

Per Floor: • 1 Single Mode Fiber/room • (0) – 48 port Switches • (0) – 48 port Patch Panels • (0) – Rack • Fiber Wall Box with Splitters • (1) – ONU/room

Main Equipment Room (1st Floor): • (0) – 48 port Switches • (0) – 48 port Patch Panels • (0) – Core Switch/Router • (1) – ONU/room • (1) – PON OLT w/ L2/3 • (1) – Fiber Patch Panel • (1) – Rack

Equipment Comparison

PON Traditional Cat 6 Cabling √

Cat 6 Patch Panels √

Fiber Cabling √ √

Fiber Patch Panels √ √

Cat 6 Switches √

Core Switch/Router √

Fiber Wall Boxes w/splitters √

PON OLT √

PON ONU √

Installation Time – Physical Install Time Qty EPON Traditional

Cat 6 Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =(4x42x5) =840

840.0

Cat 6 Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =4x5 =20

6.0

Fiber Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =8 /floor Back Bone =42/floor PON

8.0 42.0

8.0

Fiber Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =1 /floor Back Bone = 1 PON

0.3

1.5

Cat 6 Switches .3 Hour/Switch =4x5 =20

6.0

Core Switch/Router .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5

PON OLT .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5

PON ONU .3 Hour / ONU =42x5 =210 ONUs

63.0

TOTAL Hours 113.8 862.0

Installation Time – Physical Install Time Qty EPON Traditional

Cat 6 Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =(4x42x5) =840

210.0

Cat 6 Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =4x5 =20

6.0

Fiber Cabling 1 Hour/Cable =8 /floor Back Bone =42/floor PON

8.0 42.0

8.0

Fiber Patch Panels .3 Hour/Panel =1 /floor Back Bone = 1 PON

0.3

1.5

Cat 6 Switches .3 Hour/Switch =4x5 =20

6.0

Core Switch/Router .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5

PON OLT .5 Hour/Switch =1 0.5

PON ONU .2 Hour / ONU =42x5 =210 ONUs

63.0

TOTAL Hours 113.8 232.0

Installation Time – Configuration Time Qty EPON Traditional

Cat 6 Switches 1 Hour/Switch =20 (4x5) 20.0

Core Switch/Router 2 Hour/Switch =1 2.0

PON OLT 2 Hour/Switch =1 2.0

PON ONU .3 Hour / configuration

=210 (42x5) ONUs 1 configuration

0.3

TOTAL Hours 2.3 22.0

Time Qty EPON Traditional

Installation Time 113.8 232.0

Configuration Time 2.3 22.0

TOTAL Hours 116.1 254.0

Total Time Needed:

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Summary

TCO is comprised of both CAPEX and OPEX costs • CAPEX costs for Horizontal, Riser and Main Equipment room include:

• Equipment acquisition • Initial Installation costs

The main capital saving of a POL network comes from the installation and equipment in the Riser closets. The elimination of the Edge switches and replacing them with passive optical splitters.

• OPEX costs for a traditional LAN is one of the biggest expenses for all enterprises. The on-going

costs associated with Network Management, HVAC, Telecom Room space are always increasing. • Network Management costs include; service provision costs (work orders, testing, VLAN

assignments, etc), Switch Maintenance costs (including Patches, upgrades) • Training • Sparing

Floor Space, Heating and Cooling are the major sources of OPEX cost saving. POL networks reduce floor space needs by >60% and reduce energy costs >70%

GREEN Benefits of a POL The POL network provides a number of key Green benefits to a building owner:

1. Power savings from eliminated Access and Aggregation Switches

2. Reduced equipment needs – Switches, Patch Panels, Cabling and cable trays etc.

3. Reduced Floor space needs – elimination of Telecom Rooms 4. Reduced Materials – significantly less cabling, reduced

packaging and minimal waste

Traditional networks vs. POL Summary Passive Optical LAN technology supports all of the requirements of today’s enterprise network with a much lower cost than traditional LAN designs. It is a GREEN technology, which seamlessly enables smart buildings. Finally, it supports an easy migration to higher data rates (10G) when needed.

Networks are about Efficiency! REMEMBER:

Thank You

Bob Matthews Technical Manager CommScope Canada Booth 500