June 7, 2006
Furukawa Electric has successfully developed the world’s first GE-PON (Note 1) optical extender (FITELwave AG400 series). Existing GE-PON subscriber terminals have a maximum transmission distance of 20km, but with Furukawa’s optical extender, this can be increased by 2.5 times, or up to 50km. Additionally, the extender features wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) capabilities, enabling the multiplex transmission of optical signals with differing wavelengths over a single optical fiber. As such, the FITELwave AG400 series allows service to be provided to up to 256 households through a single optical fiber, 4 times as many as the current maximum of 64 households.
Overview of FITELwave AG400 Series
Many systems that provide high-speed 1Gbps (gigabit per second) communication services by optical fiber to subscribers use the so-called GE-PON system. These systems link network centers and subscribers using optical fiber, and use multiplexing for bi-directional transmission of optical signals with different wavelengths. Due to the use of optical splitters and other methods to branch a single optical fiber, many GE-PON systems limit provider services with respect to the number of splits (i.e., the number of subscribers able to connect to a single optical fiber) and distance.
The GE-PON optical extender developed by Furukawa Electric extends the maximum distance for GE-PON system services to 30km (maximum of 50km to subscriber terminals). In other words, by connecting GE-PON center equipment (optical line termination, OLT) to the main station, service can be extended, without relay, to a sub-station located up to 30km away. Service distance can easily be increased by the installation of extenders between existing OLT devices and the optical network unit (ONU), making it possible to construct typical GE-PON systems, from the substation onward.
Additionally, this enables multiplexed transmission over a single optical fiber without any reduction of transmission speed over a maximum of four lines coming out of the GE-PON center, or OLT devices. As a result, the number of divisions per line can be increased by four times over the current number to serve up to 256 households on a single optical fiber (see diagram for reference).
Plans are to commercialize the following series as the product lineup.
| Product name | Features | Launch period |
|---|---|---|
| FITELwave AG400 series (GE-PON extender; indoor type for 4-channel WDM) | Product for indoor installation enabling extension of four PON lines using 4-channel WDM | Autumn 2006 |
| FITELwave AG500 Series (GE-PON extender; outdoor type for 4-channel WDM) | Product for outdoor installation allowing for mounting on utility pole for extending up to four PON lines using four-channel WDM | Spring 2007 |
| FITELwave AG100 Series (GE-PON extender; outdoor type for 1-channel) | Product for outdoor installation, for example on utility poles, enabling extension of single PON lilne | Autumn 2006 |
Furukawa Electric plans to commence sales of these extenders from autumn 2006, and expects orders commensurate with 400 lines by the end of FY2008. Presentation of this extender will take place at the exhibition CATV 2006 (Note 2), held at Tokyo Big Site from June 14 to June 16, 2006.
Supplemental Information
- Note 1: GE-PON
- The abbreviation for gigabit-Ethernet passive optical network, and capable of providing communication services up to 1,000Mbps using optical splitters to branch a single optical fiber.
- Note 2: CATV 2006
- Japan’s largest CATV exhibition. Held this year from June 14 (Wednesday) through June 16 (Friday) at Tokyo Big Site.
System Construction Diagram
Image of existing GE-PON FTTH Service
Image of FTTH service using FITELwave AG400 Series
Product pictures
(1) FITELwave AG400 Series (main station)
(2) FITELwave AG400 Series (sub-station)
(3) FITELwave AG100 series (outdoor type)
