Self-coherent reflective FDMA-PON for next generation access and LAN architectures

In this paper we will give an insight to the FABULOUS European Project, pertaining to the 7^th Framework Program, showing a self-coherent passive optical network that employs Frequency Division Multiplexing and is compatible with legacy infrastructures and NG-PON2 power budget specifications, while exceeding them in terms of bit-rate. FABULOUS also envisions an innovative Optical Network Unit, based on a reflective Mach-Zehnder modulator, that is suitable for full integration in silicon-photonics, for realizing low-cost customer premises equipment, indispensable for a massive deployment of the solution. The novelty of this work compared to previous papers in the same areas is in focusing on different possible applications having different physical layer requirements, including the recent trend that propose high-capacity PON as an alternative solution for next-generation Local Area Network.