ADTRAN Aims for NG-PON2 on Current Networks

ADTRAN (NASDAQ:ADTN) is aiming to apply NG-PON2 to existing 10G PON architecture to reduce costs and extend the useful life of fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) networks. Using symmetric 10 Gbps (10G) wavelength ITU/FSAN standards-based technology that is backwards compatible with current PON deployments, ADTRAN's NG-PON2 platform is intended to allow existing residential FTTP customers and business customers to be supported on a single, common access architecture.

NG-PON2 specifications describe a PON infrastructure that combines time- and wavelength-division multiplexing in a PON format (TWDM PON). It supports four wavelengths of 10 Gbps symmetric each, for a total system capacity of 40 Gbps. It thus delivers four times the downstream bandwidth and ten times the upstream bandwidth per wavelength of GPON, and four times the total capacity of 10G GPON (XG-PON).

However, at this early stage of its development, NG-PON2 technology has been considered very expensive compared to current GPON equipment. ADTRAN says it has reduced NG-PON2 cost to more attractive levels by developing a flexible optics approach that enables the system to interoperate with multiple "cost vs. capability" types of optical transceivers. The "pay as you grow" approach is intended to allow the service provider options from symmetric 10G up to multi-wavelength TWDM.

ADTRAN says the new capability also will support 10 Gigabit GPON, point-to-point DWDM, 10 Gigabit EPON, and GPON. An ADTRAN source told BTR sister site Lightwave that support of DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON (DPoE) is on the roadmap. Support of DOCSIS Provisioning of GPON is not, the source added.

The new NG-PON2 hardware is also designed to support provisioning through open APIs for SDN-based management systems. The new architecture is expected to begin field trials in the third quarter of this year.