Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1043933
November/December 2018 I 13 it is necessary that extra fiber cores in the backbone are available. Otherwise, this solution requires even more effort to add backbone cables. • Lack of redundancy: providing additional power to the mini-switches can be complex and costly. Sometimes, there is a lack of multiple paths. • Heat management: most mini-switches are designed for installation in PVC trunking with heat evacuation on the side. Installing these products in narrow fit metal backboxes can impede the heat evacuation. Some models are available with front ventilation. • Lack of choice: there are very few suppliers of such products; format and options are limited. • Compatibility with local formats: with U.S., U.K., French, Italian, Japanese, and multiple other faceplate formats existing in the world, it can be quite challenging to find the right product for the right region. The FTTO solution has certain advantages, but also some serious drawbacks that limit its use to niche applications. The PON Alien PON technology was introduced to support fiber-to- the-home (FTTH) applications. This architecture uses singlemode fiber, with only one strand to the home. Going back toward the service provider, multiple strands are spliced together with passive splitters, allowing connection of up to 32 homes on a single fiber. This clearly saves on cabling and provides a high data rate to the home compared to other solutions, such as ADSL or coaxial cable. In the recent past, this technology has been introduced into the enterprise LAN environment as passive optical LAN (POL) and as a replacement of structured cabling. It has been ratified in some standards as a recognized alternative. POL provides some interesting advantages, including: • Elimination of equipment in the FD, like the FTTO solution. • Very reduced cabling, with sometimes only one strand to the floor with only passive splitters. FIGURE 6: PON design example. 24 ONTs with: ○ 1x Fiber port PON ○ 4x RJ45 PoE Gigabit Cabinet for BD equipped with: ○ Fiber panel for 5x 1core ○ 1x Fiber Switch 1 single-core fiber cable to each of 5 floors. Passive splitter 1 to 32 (only 24 used) Note: Example not realiistic as PON switches are for larger networks. Typical Floor F D B D 24 single-core fiber cables. To other 4 FDs Corridor Office area Work area O N T