Enabling Technologies for Future Scalable and Flexible WDM-PON and WDM/TDM-PON Systems

• Published in: IEEE journal of selected topics in quantum electronics Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 1290 - 1297
• Main Author: Kani, Jun-ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.09.2010; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bandwidth; Computer networks; Explosions; Multiplexing; Next generation networking; Optical communication; Optical fiber networks; Optical fiber subscriber loops; Optical network units; optical subscriber loops; Passive optical networks; Quantum electronics; State of the art; Terminals; Time division multiplexing; Wavelength division multiplexing; Wavelengths; WDM networks
• ISSN: 1077-260X; 1558-4542
• DOI: 10.1109/JSTQE.2009.2035640

Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technologies are expected to play a key role in realizing the next generation scalable and flexible passive optical networks (PONs). One candidate is WDM-PON, in which each optical network unit (ONU) uses a different wavelength, i.e., a unique wavelength, in each direction to communicate with the optical line terminal. Another candidate is WDM/time-division multiplexing (TDM)-PON; it combines WDM with TDM technology. This paper reviews recent state-of-the-art research on the enabling technologies needed to realize future WDM-PON and WDM/TDM-PON systems, and discusses future directions toward practical PON systems.