1. Passive Optical LAN Fiber Trends Testing and Updates – Get the Facts
This presentation was part of a Pre-Conference seminar at the 2014 BICSI Winter Conference. The slides shown here were presented by
Loni Le Van-Etter, 3M

2. What Is A Passive Optical LAN ?

3. What is PON? Passive Optical Network.
Facilitates a higher bandwidth broadband access technology
With a PON, optical fiber is deployed either all the way or almost all the way to the end user
Passive because:
network only consists of passive light transmission components (fiber links, splitters and couplers), with electronics only at the endpoints
This creates great cost savings for the provider (more reliable and less costly to operate/troubleshoot)
PONs use a Point-to-Multi-Point (P2MP) topology
With a 1:n splitter

4. PON Types
APON
Initial name for ATM based PON spec. Designed by Full Service Access Network (FSAN) group.
BPON
Broadband PON standard specified in ITU G through G.893.7
APON renamed
Supports 155 or 622 Mbps downstream, 155 Mbps upstream.

5. PON Types GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network)
ITU Standard G.984
Downstream 2.488Gbits/s, Upstream 1.244Gbits/s
Uses GPON Encapsulation Method (GEM), fragmented packets or ATM
ITU Standard G.987 for 10Gbits
Symmetrical 10GB
Asymmetric 10 GB downstream /2.488/10GB upstream
Commercial availability in 2014/2015 time frame 5

6. PON Types EPON (Ethernet Passive Optical Network)
Sometimes called GEPON (Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network)
IEEE standard, ratified as 802.3ah-2004 for 1Gbits/s
Symmetrical 1.25GB downstream and upstream
Uses standard Ethernet data frames
IEEE 802.3av standard for 10Gbits/s
Symmetrical 10GB
Asymmetric 10GB downstream / 1GB upstream
Commercially available today 6

7. How PON Works All data goes to all ONUs, and the ONU
Upstream TDM Operation
ONTs send information to the OLT in a
specific time window.
Upstream TDMA Operation
ONUs send information to the OLT in a
User 2
User 1
User 3
ONT
OLT
ONU
Downstream Broadcast
All data goes to all ONTs, and the ONT
address controls the downstream data.
All data goes to all ONUs, and the ONU

8. PON FTTx Architecture

9. Enterprise Office Building
What is POL?
Desktop ONT
Service Provider Network
EPON OLT
Splitter/interconnect
Data
Video
Voice
BASEMENT
1st FLOOR
2nd FLOOR
Enterprise Office Building
Interconnect to riser
equipment cord (1 fiber)
riser cable (multi fiber)
horizontal cable (1 fiber)
Cu patch cords
Passive Optical LAN. Aka “Vertical PON”, “Optical LAN”
Uses FTTx PON components in an indoor environment
Again, optical fiber (single mode) is deployed almost all the way to the end user
Point-to-multi-point

10. Passive Optical Network Overview
POL is an Enterprise passive optical network based on legacy PON architecture
ITU-T G.984.x GPON
IEEE 802.3ah EPON
Enterprise applications began around 2009
Vendors with new software features, new hardware for indoor applications
Point to multi-point architecture
Utilizes singlemode fiber end-to-end

11. Copper-based LAN Passive Optical LAN
Active Ethernet switches for LAN core, aggregation and access functions
Cable infrastructure per service
CATx
Coax
Some Multi-mode Fiber (MMF)
Passive Optical LAN
Passive optical network (PON)
Optical Line Terminal (OLT)
Optical distribution network
Optical Network terminations (ONT)
Single mode fiber converges all building ICT services over single infrastructure
Local
Provisioning &
Management
Centralized
Provisioning &
Management
OLT
Campus Aggregation
Building Aggregation
Distance
Limited –
MMF – 550m
Copper – 100m
Passive
Network
Over
20km/12mi
Distance
Copper based LAN
At the building distributor and at every floor distributor/Telecom Room:
Requires: Active electronics to regenerate and switch the signal-
Requires Power
Requires HVAC
Requires UPS
Requires stacks of copper patch panels
Requires multiple home run cables to each work area
Communication Closet
building
automation
wireless
End User
security

12. Benefits of Singlemode Fiber for the LAN
Superior Performance
Greater bandwidth and distance.
No cross-talk, interference
Easier Installation
No ladder rack required
Fiber is easier to test & certify
No shielding required for EMI and RFI
Pulling Tension
Fiber more robust than copper cables
Fiber typically has a 50/100 lb tension; copper only 25 lb pull strength.
Highly Secure
Harder to tap than copper; not vulnerable to emissions
Easier to Upgrade
Future-ready for higher bandwidths
SM lasts for generations of electronics
Non-Heat Producing
Fiber is all-dielectric
Less likely to cause a fire than copper
Environmentally Friendly
Attenuates signal less than copper
Consumes far less raw materials
Much smaller
Smaller size and lighter weight but more capacity than copper cables
Less an impact on environmental sustainability

13. Which Standards Support It ?

14. Industry Support
APOLAN Global industry association formed (
Association for Passive Optical LAN industry organization
Member companies consisting of
Distributors
Active and passive equipment manufacturers
IT integrators
Consultants, and other affiliations
Advocates the education and global adoption of passive optical networks for the LAN marketplace

15. BICSI Support
BICSI TDMM (Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual) 13th Edition published January 2014
Includes PON chapter in the Horizontal Distribution Section
Contains special consideration topics for PON design in a commercial environment
Developed by multiple vendors participation

16. TIA Passive Optical LAN Support – August 2012
TIA-568-C Generic Telecommunications Cabling
for Customer Premise – Addendum 2, General Updates
Table 9 Single-mode Fiber Application support for PON
technologies
Maximum supportable distances for GPON & EPON applications
Minimum and maximum channel attenuation including couplers and splitters for PON

17. TIA Standards Applicable to Passive Optical LAN Design
TIA establishes and maintains standards for the premise wiring industry
Applicable standards include:
ANSI/TIA-568-C.0, Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises
ANSI/TIA-568-C.1, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard
ANSI/TIA-568-C.2, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard; Part 2: Balanced Twisted Pair Cabling Components
ANSI/TIA-568-C.3, Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard
TIA-569-C, Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces
ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-B, Administration Standard for Commercial Telecommunications
ANSI-J-STD-607-A, Commercial Building Grounding (Earthing) AND Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications
ANSI/TIA-578-B, Customer Owned Outside Plant Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard

18. When Should It Be Used ?

19. When to Consider Suitable and advantageous for many LAN scenarios
Large number of switch ports
Higher security inherent to fiber optics is required
Longer distances needed (over 20km supported)
No emissions and EFI/RFI (industrial applications)
Bandwidth demands are flexible
To minimize energy consumption
Congested conduits or tight spaces (much less material required for PON)
Non-centralized access switches (ONU/T) are acceptable
Infrastructure lifecycle duration optimized
Wireless and PoE not primary focus

20. Building Owner’s Architectural Considerations
New building construction/architecture
Freedom offered by distance of single-mode fiber
Less space and cabling materials required
Less in cabling support systems (ladder rack)
Less fire load
Less distributor/telecom room spacing (sqft) required
Less floor distributor HVAC, UPS, copper patch panels, support systems, etc.
Consolidation of systems supporting converged services
Consolidation of multiple cabling infrastructures all over one single-mode fiber

21. GREEN Buildings
Passive Optical LANs lend easily to Green & Sustainability initiatives
Reduction of electronics power consumption/per Ethernet port (vendor specific)
Reduced physical cabling materials & new construction support systems
Longevity of the fiber infrastructure
Converged services support for voice, video, data, security, WiFi, BAS …
LEED® - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
STEP - Sustainable Technology Environments Program
Ratings plan that will bring sustainability to technology systems
TIA TR Standard for Sustainable Information Communications Technology (TR-42 TIA standard development in process)
Key goals of STEP include:
Minimize energy, Reduce waste, Optimizing infrastructure design, Provide scalability, & Reduce construction materials

22. Today’s Market Adoption
Applicable to most verticals
Military
Government
Higher education
Financial
Enterprise offices
Hospitality
Healthcare
Real deployment examples
San Diego Library
USDA, Dept. Homeland Security
University of Mary Washington
Russell Investments
Deltek Headquarters
Canon Headquarters
Marriott Hotel
Pardubice Hospital

23. How Do I Design It ?

24. Planar Lightwave Circuit
Fiber Optic Splitters
What is a fiber optic splitter?
Key enabling technology for passive optical signal distribution
Contains no electronics
Uses no electricity (high reliability)
Signal attenuation is the same in both directions
Non-wavelength selective
Planar Lightwave Circuit
Facility and/or equipment redundancy options supported by dual-input splitters 2x32, 2x16…
Optical splitter dual inputs
OLT

25. TIA Compliant Design Requirements
TIA-568-C Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premise
Single-mode fiber for backbone & horizontal (performance specs per TIA-568-C.3)
Requires generic structured cabling in a hierarchical star
Splitters allowed in distributor spaces A, B, C
In a distributor telecom room
In a distributor enclosure (zone area)
Not allowed within cabling subsystem 1
Two fiber or higher to each work area recommended
Although only one fiber needed two can be installed for growth/spare
Source: TIA-568-C
Distributors A and B are optional (centralized fiber approach).

26. TIA Performance Criteria
TIA-568-C.3 Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard
Single-mode fiber
Attenuation
Indoor/Outdoor, Outdoor < .5 dB/km
Indoor < 1.0 dB/km
Inside plant
Pull strength 50 lbf min
Bend radius (<= 4 fibers 1 inch, 2 inches under load) (> 4 fibers 10x outer dia., 20x outer dia. under load)
Connector Performance
Attenuation (insertion loss)
Fiber connectors < .75 dB
Fiber splices < .3 dB
Return Loss
26 dB, 55 dB analog video
Other: temperature, humidity, impact, coupling strength, ….
Enhanced products offered from manufacturers today -
Single-mode bend insensitive fiber:
5mm bend radius (G.657.B3) , indoor/outdoor attenuation < .4 dB/km
Easy installable mechanical connectivity:
Connectors IL < dB typical & RL >55-60 dB; Splices < .1 dB typical

27. Infrastructure Fundamentals
Simplex Single-mode fiber
Polarity not a concern for Tx/Rx signals
Multimode cannot support the extended reach of PON
Connector type
Typically all simplex SC/APC type
Some exceptions (check with equipment vendors)
Heavy duty ladder rack not required
Fiber is light weight & tiny compared to copper
Longevity, reliability of the fiber plant
Choose quality splitters, connectors
Choose vendors who offer most flexibility
J-hook

28. Other Design Considerations
PON Equipment Vendor Options:
Some ONT’s support Power over Ethernet (WAPs, VoIP phones,…) IEEE802.3af, at
Some ONTs support copper horizontal distances (100 m)
Redundancy options for fiber facility and/or added equipment redundancy
Options for remote powering &/or battery reserve at ONT
Passive infrastructure choices:
Splitters
Interconnect vs. Cross-connect
Fiber connectivity

29. Fiber Optic Splitters Various product formats
Both single and dual-input
All pre-connectorized
Pre-tested, ease of install & use
Various split ratios
1 or 2 x 32, 16, 8, 4, 2
Inputs
Outputs

30. Common Enterprise PON Configurations
Optical splitter(s) 1
ONT
SPLITTERS IN TR/Closet
Cat x
cords
Cabling Subsystem 1
Backbone & Horizontal
Cross-connect
ONT
PC, VoIP phone, printer, WAP, etc.
Fiber patch
cords
Wall outlet
Telecom
Room (TR)/Closet
Backbone
Optical splitter(s) 2
ONT
SPLITTERS IN ZONE DISTRIBUTOR
Telecom Enclosure
Backbone
Optical Network Terminals (ONT)
Floors 1-n
Fiber patch panels –
OLT to Riser/ backbone
Configuration 1 – TR Distributor A
Backbone
Cross-connect
Configuration 2 – Zone Distributor A
OLT
Optical Line Terminal (OLT)
Equip.
Room (ER) MC

31. Interconnect vs. Cross-connect
Considerations
Ease of test and MACs w/o unplugging horizontal or splitter legs
Are all splitter outputs going to be used?
Adds 1 connector pair (IL) where implemented
Fiber from backbone to splitter input on front
Added adapter plate and fiber patch cords facilitate full cross-connect/ patching between splitter and horizontal
Horizontal cabling plugs into back of adapter plate
III) Splitter Module Cross-connect Solution
Standard simplex fiber patch cord
1x32 way splitter module
32 port adapter plate
Fiber from backbone to splitter input on front
Horizontal cabling plugs into front splitter output ports
Faceplate Module
Interconnect Solution
3-slot wide 1x32 way splitter module
Attached input(s) and output legs
Horizontal cabling plugs into back of adapter plate
Pigtail Splitter Module
Interconnect Solution
adapter plate
32 pre-terminated output legs
Added adapter plates between splitter and horizontal cabling complete this interconnect solution.
Output legs of the splitter plug into front of adapter plate
An interconnect choice is the most dense and cost-effective solution.

32. ANSI/TIA-568-C Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises-Addendum 2, General Updates, published August 2012
Link and Channel definitions updated to accommodate PONs
“Link attenuation does not include any active devices or passive devices other than cable, connectors, and splices (i.e., does not include splitters).”
“Channel attenuation includes the attenuation of the constituent links, patch cords, and other passive devices such as by-pass switches, couplers and splitters.”

33. Optical Link Budget Allowance
The optical link budget allowance is a calculated attenuation/ loss expectancy based on the end-to-end components incorporated within the link or channel design.
OLT
ONT
Connectors
Example: Singlemode Fiber GPON Channel
Splices
Splitter
Attenuation is the loss or decrease of signal power and is the primary limiting factor in an optical transmission system.
Attenuation/loss testing must be performed after the fiber cable installation to ensure the system meets the original
design intent and that the application can be supported within the criteria specified.
→The attenuation measurement results for the link or channel should always be less than the designed optical budget attenuation allowance.

34. Example Optical Budget
Optical power budget criteria is specified for the Channel per EIA/TIA 568-C.0-2
GPON Class B Min = 10dB, Max = 25dB over 20 km distance
EPON Min = 10dB, Max = 24dB over 20 km distance
Channel = Constituent links + fiber cords + splitters between OLT and ONT
Calculating Optical Loss Budget Allowance (TIA)
Step 1 – calculate fiber loss
.5 dB/km for outside plant
1.0 dB/km for inside plant
Step 2 – calculate the connector loss
.75 dB max/connector pair
Step 3 – calculate any splice loss
.3 dB max per splice
Step 4 – calculate the splitter(s) loss
Step 5 - Include the loss of the connector at the end of the channel (fiber patch point)
Step 6 -Add all losses

35. Singlemode Fiber Field Testing - Certification for Passive Optical LANs
Tier 1 Testing is Required – Per TIA/EIA & IEC standards, Link segments should simply be tested visually and tested for loss.
Visual Inspections
Visually verify installed length as well as minimum end face scratches/debris and the polarity of any multi-fiber links
Power meter/Light Source (PMLS)
PM/LS testing measures the end-to-end loss of the link
If attenuation is under the TIA optical budget allowance, it passes for commissioning
Use ANSI/TIA/EIA-526-7, Method A.1, One Reference Jumper method
- Test Cabling Subsystem 1 links at 1310 nm.
- Test Cabling Subsystem 2 or 3 backbone links at 1310 and 1550 nm.
- Test channel at 1310 and 1490 nm (Per TIA-568-C.0-2 Table 9 which states min and max channel attenuation for singlemode fiber PON applications)

36. Summary
Passive Optical Network technology has many benefits for the Enterprise environment and may be a viable alternative
The environment will typically dictate which architecture will be most advantageous. Retro-fit environments may not be as conducive to a PON design, but new construction will certainly gain the most benefits from a PON
Design & testing of PONS should be done in compliance with TIA cabling industry standards
Remember, the best architecture may be a mixture of designs.

37. Tyler Vander Ploeg, RCDD (JDSU)
Testing PON in the LAN
Tyler Vander Ploeg, RCDD (JDSU)

38. Testing PON in the LAN Testing Overview PON Test Solutions
Special Considerations for PON Testing
Tier 1 / Tier 2 Certification
PON Test Solutions
PON Testing scenarios
Construction / Turn-Up
Troubleshooting

39. Special considerations for PON testing
Connections are Simplex not duplex
Bidirectional transmission on the same fiber
Testing with Optical Splitters
Tighter Loss Budgets
Many contaminated connections to deal with
All Singlemode APC connectors
Different operational wavelengths than "normal”
1270, 1310, 1490, 1577
Special Tools may be needed
PON selective power meters for construction and troubleshooting
In-line because ONT does not transmit unless there is a signal from the OLT

40. Tier 1 Certification Testing
What is Tier 1 Fiber Certification Testing?
Fiber Inspection
Measure Optical Loss
Check Polarity
Measure Length*
Tier 1 Challenges when testing PON architectures
Polarity is not applicable for PON…but Continuity is
ie: …make sure fiber 2 of the splitter is going to WS24
Measuring length in a simplex architecture
Optical Return Loss more of an issue with PON

41. Tier 2 Certification Testing
How TIA-568-C defines Tier 2 Testing
Using an Optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)
“Optional” per international standards bodies, it is not required and does not substitute for PMLS test
Recommended for testing the outside plant and/or for troubleshooting
Further details uniformity of cable attenuation, connector losses, connector/splice or trouble locations
May be requested by the customer

42. Tier 2 Advantages for testing PON
With an OTDR you can Measure…
Both Multimode & Single mode Links
Optical Distance and Fiber Continuity
To Events – splices, connectors
Faults, end of fiber
Optical loss (dB)
Splices, connectors
Fiber loss (dB/km)
Reflectance or ORL
Return loss of link or section
Reflectance of connectors
Allows comparison to a baseline reference
Easily isolate problem areas
Multiple schematic views
Trace View
Graphical representations of link
Easier to understand
With higher speed networks, or those that are longer in length, such as a campus networks, the requirements can extend beyond Tier 1 testing. Tier 2 testing using an OTDR provides the additional functions of evaluating specific impairments and events along the link or evaluate loss and reflectance of individual connections, or even troubleshoot outages.

43. Contamination and Signal Performance1
CLEAN CONNECTION
Fiber Contamination and Its Affect on Signal Performance
Back Reflection = dB
Total Loss = dB 3
DIRTY CONNECTION
Clean Connection vs. Dirty Connection
The typical budgeted loss for a mated connector pair is 0.5dB
This dirty connector wasted ~10X the budgeted connector loss
This dirty connector caused ~4.9dB which is a 68% power drop
Back Reflection = dB
Total Loss = 4.87 dB

44. Tools to Qualify and Maintain Enterprise PON Networks
“In shorter, simple low-speed networks, you might be able to deploy and maintain the link w/ simple tools such as connector inspection, VFL for continuity and power and/or loss measurements to evaluate overall link loss performance.  In the enterprise world, these are referred to as Tier 1 Tests.”
In the previous Webexes, Tyler discussed the importance of inspection and cleaning, and Ed covered Tier 1 Certification Testing.
Today we will cover Tier 2, or OTDR testing.

45. Tool requirements for Fiber Technicians
Drive behavior for best practices
Improve technician performance
Prevent forming of bad habits
Equips technicians follow best practices from day 1
Optimize workflow for essential tasks
Inspection / Power Measurement / Cleaning / Fault Location
When your Techs work smarter – You save money!
Goal = FINISH THE JOB FAST
Use it anywhere
Datacenters, Overhead Cable Raceways, Under-Floor pathways and spaces, Demarcation Points, etc
Keep hands free to access equipment, route cable, etc.
Prove the quality of your work
Store your data on the device
Generate certification reports

46. Test Solutions for PON in LAN
Inspection Microscope
Pass/Fail Connector Inspection
OLS + PON Selective Power Meter
Simultaneous Testing of Multiple Wavelengths
Through-Mode Testing
OTDR
Ideal for all phases of PON tests
Detects faults
Tests through connectors, splices, and splitters
Fiber loss (dB/km) and Event loss
Multiple schematic views

47. Enterprise PON: Construction Testing
Test Feeder/Backbone link
Test Distribution link
OPTION 1: Overall Link Loss Measurement Only
Tools
Optical Light Source
PON Optical Power Meter
Microscope
Advantages
Inexpensive
Disadvantages
Not True Tier 1
Don’t know length
Unidirectional loss
No ORL/Reflectance

48. Enterprise PON: Construction Testing
Test Feeder/Backbone link
Test Distribution link
OPTION 2: Per Event Loss Measurement + Length
Tools
OTDR
Microscope
Advantages
See loss per event
Know your distance
Disadvantages
More Expensive
Uni-directional
More Complex to use (perceived)

49. Enterprise PON: Construction Testing
Test Feeder/Backbone link
Test Distribution link
OPTION 2: Fiber Complete
Tools
Fiber Complete (x2) IL
ORL
OTDR
Microscope
Advantages
Tier 1 & 2 Test
See loss per event
Know your distance
Bi-Directional Loss
Disadvantages
Need 2 Testers
Uni-directional
More Complex to use (perceived)