Extension of TDM-PON Standards to a Single-Fiber Ring Access Network Featuring Resilience and Service Overlay

A novel single-fiber ring-tree topology overlying multiple time-division-multiplexed (TDM) passive optical networks is presented and demonstrated. Each TDM service is overlaid on a different wavelength-division-multiplexing channel. A concatenation of advanced coupler-based remote nodes (RNs) distributes the channels in an optimal geographical distribution to secondary trees, which connect to the end users. With the proposed configuration, the network features flexible deployment and provides resilience capabilities in case of a fiber cut. To compensate power losses and fulfill ITU-T G.984/IEEE 802.3ah recommendations in terms of power budget (PB) and sensitivity, remote amplification is implemented at the RNs. This technique amplifies the dropped wavelengths at each RN while keeping a totally passive outside plant. A PB study, together with optical transmission experiments and network dimensioning simulations, demonstrates the feasibility of the network design.