CWDM Overlay on an EPON System: A Demonstration and Economic Ramifications for FTTH
11 June 2003
In this paper, we present results of a proof-of-concept laboratory demonstration where the new ITU-T wavelength grid for Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) is applied to Passive Optical Network (PON) for metro access. The investigated demonstration network simulates an architecture desscribed best as a CWDM overlay to a generic gigabit PON that is in accordance with ITU-T G.983/984 and IEEE 802.3ah spefications at the physical layer. Above the physical layer, we use Ethernet protocol and adapt a TDMA scheme similar to what is described in the IEEE 802.3ah pre-standard working draft. We also look beyond performance capabiltities to model economic ramifications. The use of low-cost EPON electronics and the potential of the entire set of 20-nm-spaced Full-Spectrum CWDM wavelengths for transmission over Zero Water Peak Fiber (ZWPF) provides an economic path to revenue opportunities, both in business wavelength service and in residential voice, video, and data.
