June 1, 2006
Furukawa Electric has succeeded in the development of FITELwave Smart ONU 1) (series name: AG8), the GBIC module 2) with onboard ONU, which is the world’s first module for GE-PON 3). Furukawa Electric has realized a smaller ONU that is approximately one-fifteenth the size of the conventional desktop type by utilizing both its proprietary OSA technology 4), i.e. I-PACK 5) and the new TK3713 chip by Teknovus Inc. Furukawa Electric plans to start mass producing the units in the second half of fiscal 2006 and intends to expand applications of FTTH networks to include the office network field, through increased sales to network equipment vendors.
This product will be exhibited at Globalcomm 2006, held in Chicago from June 4, Interop Tokyo, held at Makuhari Messe from June 7, and CATV 2006, held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 14.
Development Background and Special Features
Furukawa Electric has long been active in the development and sales of GE-PON equipment to achieve high-speed throughput in FTTH-oriented networks. The advantage of GE-PON is that it utilizes technology that enables shared use of multiple ONU on a single optical fiber line, thereby realizing FTTH-oriented networks that are more economical than the Single Star method, which utilizes one-to-one connections.
ONUs, which are GE-PON terminals, are supposed to be positioned in households on desktops, and when a switch or router is necessary on the ONU LAN side, as in offices and housing complexes, there are problems, including the necessity of installation space for the ONU power supply and the complexity of wiring with switches and routers (See the Figure below).
To overcome these issues, Furukawa Electric developed an ultra-small ONU module that enables direct installation of ONU functions to the GBIC interface of the switches and the routers.
Schematics of GE-PON terminal
Special Features and Main Specifications of FITELwave Smart ONU (AG8)
- GE-PON ONU function (1000BASE-PX10) in compliance with IEEE802.3ah standard
- GBIC specification compliant
- Size (mm): 100 (D) x 30 (W) x 13 (H)
Furukawa Electric has realized a smaller ONU that is approximately one-fifteenth the size of the conventional desktop type by utilizing both its proprietary OSA I-PACK and the new TK3713 chip by Teknovus Inc. Also, because power is supplied from the LAN switch, no power supply adapter is required, thereby providing high reliability. Furukawa Electric is planning to induce network equipment vendors to adopt the unit as peripheral devices like switches and routers and then to cultivate new GE-PON markets, including the office network field. With a view to market cultivation, Furukawa Electric plans to start shipping samples in June and is scheduled to start mass production in the second half of fiscal 2006.
GBIC module
GBIC module connected to device
Scheduled Exhibitions
- Globalcomm 2006 (June 4-8, Chicago, exhibiting in the Teknovus booth)
- Interop Tokyo (June 7-9, Makuhari Messe, exhibiting in the Unidux Electronics booth)
- CATV 2006 (June 14-16, Tokyo Big Site, exhibiting in the Furukawa Electric booth)
Glossary of Key Terms
- ONU（Optical Network Unit）
The ONU is a device that is positioned in the inlet point on the user side of the optical access line. It functions as the end terminal of the optical access line and has the function of converting light to electricity. - GBIC（Gigabit Interface Converter）
GBIC is a removable transceiver module that connects to network equipment that is Gigabit Ethernet compliant. Because, typically, network equipment has the interface connecting to GBIC only, GBIC has to be inserted in order to connect LAN cables with other network equipments. GBIC also has a hot swap function, which enables network equipment online insertion and removal. Due to differing transmission media, wavelengths, and connector types, there are several varieties, including 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-SX, and 1000BASE-LX. However, until now, there has not been one with ONU functions for use in GE-PON. - GE-PON（Gigabit Ethernet-Passive Optical Network）
PON is the generic term for technology that realizes Internet connection services over high-efficiency optical fiber through branching using passive elements in the optical access line. One type of PON is called GE-PON, which is a network that transmits data over Gigabit Ethernet used in conventional LANs. This technology enables economical, high-speed (bi-directional 1 Gb/s) Internet connection services over optical access lines. It is standardized on the IEEE 802.3ah standard set in 2004 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). GE-PON becomes widespread rapidly in Japan, and internet services providers are offering 1 Gbps FTTH by GE-PON. - OSA（Optical Sub-Assembly）
OSA is a small optical device for two-way transmission with an optical connector interface, instead of optical fiber, while usual optical devices have optical fiber (pigtail fiber). - I-PACK
I-PACK is a small optical device for two-way transmission. This proprietary Furukawa Electric product makes possible non-alignment manufacturing without adjusting the optical axis of the optical device to match that of the optical fiber and, at the same time, reduces the size. - Teknovus Inc.
Teknovus develops and markets GE-PON semiconductor chipsets. It has shipped over two million GE-PON ports to more than 20 telecom carriers worldwide.
Head office: Petaluma, California.
Dr. Rex Naden, CEO and President
http://www.teknovus.com/