PON stands for Passive Optical Network, which is a system that uses fiber-optic technology to deliver data from a single source to multiple endpoints. It is designed to allow a single fiber from a service provider to maintain an efficient broadband connection for multiple end-users. PONs are becoming increasingly popular for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness over copper networks.
In a PON network, a device called an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) is placed at the head end of the network. A single fiber optic cable runs from the OLT to a non-powered (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. The PON architecture minimizes possible points of failure, making it ideal for service providers needing to supply fast, reliable connectivity to homes, hospitals, hotels, resorts, campuses, and other subscriber locations.
What distinguishes a PON from other network structures is that it uses no electrically powered equipment in its path. With PONs, power is only required at the source and receiving ends of the signal. Data is separated and collected by unpowered optical splitters along the line. PONs share fiber strands only for portions of the network, depending on the protocol, standards, upstream/downstream bitrates, and other system specifications.
PONs are energy-efficient, and less electrical equipment translates into lower power consumption. Additionally, PON can transmit data both downstream and upstream at similar speeds without quality loss.
