Deploying GPON technology for backhaul applications

Abstract

Gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology offers the reach and bandwidth capabilities that make it suitable for more than just residential and business access deployments. Other potential applications include the backhaul of traffic from local exchanges or wireless masts to a central node for switching and routing. Such applications share a common theme in that they could be served by direct fibre as the distances are modest (between 5 and 30 km), their bandwidth requirements are volatile but in total amount to several Gbit/s, and all traffic needs to be transported back to a central core node as opposed to requiring intermediate switching. This paper compares GPON with a number of competing technologies in metropolitan areas, and shows that GPON can rival these approaches both in terms of capability, equipment costs and fibre usage.