Optical Access Network Migration from GPON to XG-PON Bostjan Batagelj, Vesna Erzen, Jurij Tratnik, Luka Naglic University of Ljubljana Faculty of Electrical Engineering Ljubljana, Slovenia e-mail: bostjan.batagelj@fe.uni-lj.si e-mail: vesna.erzen@fe.uni-lj.si e-mail: jurij.tratnik@fe.uni-lj.si e-mail: luka.naglic@fe.uni-lj.si Vitalii Bagan, Yury Ignatov, Maxim Antonenko Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology Department of Radio-Electronics and Applied Informatics Moscow, Russia e-mail: VBagan@gmail.com e-mail: yury.ignatov@gmail.com e-mail: maxim.antonenko@gmail.com Abstract—The purpose of this paper is to give an introduction into the new standard base of next-generation Passive Optical Network (NG-PON). Study and analysis of future trends in the development of next-generation fixed broadband optical network is performed. The main intention of this paper is to describe migration from Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) to Ten-Gigabit-Capable Passive Optical Networks (XG-PON). Paper answers the question of what extent active and passive GPON elements need to be replaced and what needs to be added when migrating to XG-PON. Special focus is also pointed on the coexistence of GPON and XG-PON. Keywords-passive optical network; Gigabit PON; XG-PON; fiber to the home; optical access network I. INTRODUCTION With new services like three-dimensional high-definition television, cloud computing, more and more internet based applications the required bandwidth to the end user is increasing constantly (approx. 50% per year by Nielsen’s law [1]). This gives the infrastructure providers an opportunity to offer new services and consequently increases average revenue per user, and thus they need to make smart decision about the investment into Fiber to the x (FTTx) technology, where x stands for node, cabinet, curb, cell, building, premises or even home as an ultimate and final solution. It is the common fact that running fiber to the end customer (to the home) is the best possible option. After making the decision for FTTH there are two basic architectures possible. One is point-to-point (P2P) [2] and another is point-to-multipoint (P2MP) typically seen on the market as PON (Passive Optical Network) technology. Most of the recent deployment in Europe and America is based on GPON system standardized by ITU-T series G.984 [3]. It offers downstream speed of 2.4 Gbit/s typically for up to 64 users and upstream speed of 1.2 Gbit/s. Since fiber as a media can transport much more, operators are expecting more from FTTH technology. Present Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) as a future safe investment new standard for first generation of Ten-Gigabit-Capable Passive Optical Networks (XG-PON1) has been published in 2010 by ITU-T [4]. This standard will offer 10 Gbit/s downstream and 2.5 Gbit/s upstream speed; but, target distance and split ratio did not increase much. Research in this area continues the job to bring even better P2MP technology. Most of them are today known under the term second generation of next-generation Passive Optical Network (NG-PON2). Incorporating the Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology is mandatory to go beyond XG-PON data rates, splits and reach. The main difference between XG-PON1 and NG- PON2 from operator point of view will be the migration strategy. Since the NG-PON2 will use brand new technology, coexistence of GPON and NG-PON2 will be difficult. This paper presents the migration from GPON to XG- PON. As an enhancement to GPON, XG-PON1 inherits the framing and management from GPON. XG-PON1 provides full-service operations via 4x higher rate and 2x larger split to support a PON network structure. In Section 2 of this paper basic technology and up-to-date standards status are described. Section 3 contains main points in the XG-PONs deployment and development: general description, co- existence with previous standards, physical layer capability, etc. Some information on the RF CATV co-existence inside XG-PON is also described. Section 4 contains information on the examples of products for WDM filters that are planned to use in XG-PON1, possible candidates for OLT filters and also information on the tunable lasers, their possible applications for NG-PONs systems, advantages and disadvantages. Section 5 summarizes the overall conclusions. II. BASIC TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION A. Gigabit PON Efforts to standardize PON networks operating at above 1 Gbit/s were initiated in 2001 as the ITU-T G.984 series of recommendations [3]. GPON attempts to preserve as many 62 Copyright (c) IARIA, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-61208-205-9 ACCESS 2012 : The Third International Conference on Access Networks