1.

INTRODUCTION
a. Background
b. PON (Passive Optical Networks)
c. GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network)
2. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE OF GPON
3. GPON NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
a. FTTB Scenario
b. FTTC & FTTCab scenario
c. FTTH Scenario
4. COMPONENTS OF GPON SYSTEM
a. Optical Line Termination (OLT)
b. Optical Network Unit (ONU) and Optical Network Terminal (ONT)
c. Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
5. GPON TRANSMISSIONS
a. Downstream
b. Upstream
6. GPON SECURITY
7. HOW GPON WORKS
8. SUMMARY
9. REFERENCES

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INTRODUCTION
Background:

GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) innovation began in the continuous arrangement of ATM-PON
specialized gauges in 1995, PON is "latent optical system" shortening. The Gigabit Passive Optical Network
(GPON) was initially proposed by the FSAN in September 2002. On this premise, ITU-T finished the
definition of ITU-T G.984.1 and G.984.2 in March 2003, and in 2004. The institutionalization of G.984.3
was finished in February and June. Which in the long run framed a GPON standard family. The
fundamental structure of a device dependent on the GPON innovation is like the current PON.

PON (Passive Optical Networks):

A PON is a fiber network that only uses fiber and passive components like PON splitters and combiners
rather than active components like amplifiers, repeaters, or shaping circuits. Thus PON network costs
significantly less than those using active components, but it has a shorter range of coverage limited by
signal strength. An active optical network (AON) is able to cover a range to about 100 km (62 miles), while
a PON is typically limited to fiber cable runs of up to 20 km (12 miles). PON is also called FTTH (fiber to the
home) network.

The typical PON arrangement is a point to multi-point (P2MP) network where a central optical line
ibutes TV or Internet service to as many as 16 to 128
customers per fiber line. Dividing a single optical signal into multiple equal but lower-power signals, the
optical splitters distribute the signals to users. An ONU (optical network unit) terminates the PON at the

be one device.

GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network):

Gigabyte Passive Optical Networks (GPON's) are systems which depend on optical links to convey data.
GPON's are right now the main type of Passive Optical Networks. GPON utilizes optical wavelength division
multiplexing (WDM) so a single fiber could be used for both upstream and downstream data. A laser on a
wavelength of 1490 nm transmits downstream data, while upstream data transmits on a wavelength of
1310 nm.

While each ONU gets the full downstream rate of 2.488 Gbits/s, GPON uses a time division multiple access
(TDMA) format to allocate a specific timeslot to each user. It divides the bandwidth, so each user gets a
fraction such as 100 Mbits/s depending on the way the service provider allocates it. The upstream rate is
less than the maximum as it is shared with other ONUs in a TDMA scheme. The distance and time delay
of each subscriber are determined by the OLT. Then software provides a way to allot timeslots to upstream
data for each user. The typical split of a single fiber is 1:32 or 1:64, which means each fiber can serve up
to 32 or 64 subscribers. Split ratios up to 1:128 are possible in some systems.

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SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE OF GPON
Active transmission equipment in GPON network consists only of Optical Line Termination (OLT) and
Optical Network Unit (ONU). The image below shows logical network architecture with different FTTx
options.

Starting at the central office, only one single mode optical fiber strand runs to a passive optical power
(see below diagram). At this point the splitting device simply divides the
optical power into N separate paths to the subscribers. The number of splitting paths can vary from 2 to
64. From the optical splitter, individual single-mode fiber strand run to each user (home, businesses, etc.).
The optical fiber transmission span from the central office to the each user can be up to 20 km.

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GPON NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
From the architecture diagram below, the optical access network comprises the following scenarios:

1. FTTB scenario
2. FTTC & FTTCab scenario
3. FTTH scenario

FTTB Scenario:

Fiber to the Building, is the deployment of fiber (optical) cable to a specific location within a building,
then connected to the buildings existing copper cable facilities. This deployment is also referred to as:

i. FTTB (Fiber to the Basement)

ii. FTTB (Fiber to the Business).

FTTC & FTTCab scenario:

Fiber to the Curb, is the deployment of fiber close to the customer but not fully to the
residence. In this deployment the existing copper plant is still used to deliver service to the actual
customer. Following Scenarios Also Falls Under This Category

i. FTTN (Fiber to the Neighborhood)

ii. FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet)

FTTH Scenario:

Fiber to the Home is the complete deployment of fiber to the customers home, with replacement of
their existing NID (Network Interface Device). This replacement device is called an ONT (Optical Network
Terminator) which we will discuss later.

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COMPONENTS OF GPON SYSTEM
Optical Line Termination (OLT)

The OLT provides the service node interface (SNI) (typically 1 Gbps and/or 10 Gbps Ethernet LAN
interfaces) towards the core network, and controls the GPON. The OLT consists of three major parts:

Service port interface function

Cross-connect function
Optical distribution network (ODN) interface

Optical Network Unit (ONU) and Optical Network Terminal (ONT)

ONU is placed as the subscriber neighborhood for terminating the optical fiber transmission and
converting the signals to electrical ones over metallic line to subscribers. The signals will be adapted to
user traffic through Network Terminal (NT).
The major functions of ONU are:
Message format translation from user network interface to GPON internal frame interface (GTC
frame)
Downstream and upstream framing control in GPON section.
An optical network terminal (ONT) combines the functions of the ONU and NT in a single unit. In this
case, there is no external connection between the ONU and NT functions. This is the most common
terminal type for single family homes and small businesses.

Optical Distribution Network (ODN)

ODN is the component which connects an OLT to many ONU/ONTs by passive optical device. One or
more optical splitters are found in the ODN to make the optical signals either distributed or aggregated.

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GPON TRANSMISSIONS
Two traffic transmission directions we will discussed in this section:

Downstream
Upstream

In the downstream direction, ONUs receive the same transmitted packet in which only part of the packet
belongs to the specific ONU. In the upstream direction, all ONUs share the same transmission frame to
send messages to the OLT according to the bandwidth allocation policy scheduled by the OLT in advance.

Downstream

Downstream traffic is broadcasted from the OLT to all ONUs in TDM manner. Every ONU must take into
account only frames intended for him what is assured by encryption.

Upstream

Upstream traffic uses TDMA, under control on the OLT as discussed above, which assigns variable time
length slots to each ONU for synchronized transmission of its data bursts.

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GPON SECURITY
The basic functionality of GPON is that downstream data are broadcasted to all ONUs and every ONU have
allocated time when data belongs to him (TDM like). Because of that, some malicious user can reprogram
his own ONU and capture all downstream data belonging to all ONUs connected to that OLT. In upstream
direction GPON uses point-to-point connection so all traffic is secured from eavesdropping. Because of
that, every confidential upstream information, like security key, could be sent in clear text.

Thus, the GPON recommendation G.984.3 describes the use of an information security mechanism to
ensure that users are allowed to access only the data intended for them. The encryption algorithm to be
used is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). It accepts 128, 192, and 256 byte keys which makes
encryption extremely difficult to compromise. A key can be changed periodically without disturbing the
information flow to enhance security.

HOW GPON WORKS

A GPON network is capable of transmitting ethernet, TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) as well as ATM
traffic. A GPON network consists of OLT (Optical Line Terminals), ONU (Optical Network Unit), and a
splitter. The splitter will divide the signal when needed. The OLT takes in all of the optical signals in the
form of beams of light from ONUs and will convert it to an electrical signal. OLTs normally support up to
72 ports. An ONU connects to end users and will send their signals back to the OLT. A GPON network can
reach up to 20 km and provide service up to 64 end users. GPON utilizes both upstream and downstream
data by means of Optical Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM).

In downstream transmission, the lasers wavelength measures 1490 nm while the upstream wavelength
measures 1550 nm. A single mode optical fiber coming from a central office, runs to a passive optical

paths which can range from two to sixty four. From the optical splitter, separate single mode fiber strands
will run dir
starting from the central office running to the user. With GPON transmitting downstream in a broadcast
manner and upstream in a TDMA (time division multiple access) manner, different bit rates are possible
with 1.2 Gbit/s in upstream and 2.4 Gbit/s in downstream is most common.

SUMMARY
PONs are used to provide triple-play services including TV, and Internet service to subscribers. The lower
cost of passive components means simpler systems with fewer components failing or requiring
maintenance. The primary disadvantage is shorter range possible, commonly no more than 12 miles or 20
kilometers. As the demand for faster Internet service and more video grows, PONs are growing in
popularity. The age of PON has begun. It is a new era of access network upon us.

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REFERENCES
- Pegam, Damjan. Automation of testing gigabit optical networks. Diss. University of Ljubljana,
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2015
- Cale, Ivica, Aida Salihovic, and Matija Ivekovic. "Gigabit passive optical network-
GPON." Information Technology Interfaces, 2007. ITI 2007. 29th International Conference on.
IEEE, 2007
- Adhikary, Apurba, et al. "A Project Report on Downstream Transmission Performance of GPON
- Nicholas John Lippis, GPON vs. Gigabit Ethernet in Campus Networking , February 2012

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