September 23, 2008

ZTE Unveils Hybrid TDM/WDM PON Prototype

ZTE  unveiled the world’s first Hybrid TDM/WDM PON Prototype based on all-optical wavelength conversion (AOWC). The technology was launched at the Full Service Access Network (FSAN) quarterly meeting in Shanghai on September 10.

Developed by ZTE, this is the first prototype device of its kind to support both TDM and WDM technologies and which is based on all-optical wavelength conversion (AOWC) to overcome the common optical access network hurdles of longer reach, higher bandwidth, and colorless optical network unit (ONU). ZTE’s Hybrid TDM/WDM PON Prototype is also fully compatible with existing PON deployments, which preserves the investment operators made in current generation PON while rolling out WDM and significantly reduces carriers’ operational costs.

“Passive optical networking is establishing itself as an important broadband access technologies, due to its passive components, easy network maintenance and protocol transparency,” commented Xu Ming, VP of ZTE and GM of Fixed-line Network Product. “Next Generation PON solves the issues associated with BPON, EPON and GPON such as transmission distance, splitting ratio and uplink bandwidth, ZTE’s breakthrough in all optical wavelength conversion technology provides the foundation for the development and evolution of next generation PON technology.”

The Full Service Access Network (FSAN) Group is an interest group for the world's leading telecommunications services providers, independent test labs, and equipment suppliers to work towards a common goal of truly interoperable broadband fiber access networks.

A passive optical network (PON) is a point-to-multipoint, fiber to the premises network architecture, which reduces the amount of fiber and central office equipment required compared with point to point architectures.

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