An economic way to see in the broadband dawn [passive optical network]

The author describes a passive optical network (PON) approach using TDMA (time-division multiple access) at one wavelength for telephony and TDM/WDM (time-division multiplexing/wavelength division multiplexing) at other wavelengths for broadband services such as CATV (cable TV), HDTV (high definition TV), B-ISDN (broadband integrated services digital network), and ATD. He suggests that the approach offers an attractive entry strategy for the telephone company as well as significant practical advantages for telephony. He examines passive network advantage for telephony, the low initial investment, filed practices, security, methods of upgrade to broadband, and the advantages of PONs for broadband. He presents some counter arguments