London, September 2005

Fibre to the Home gets a Burst of Energy!

Fujikura Europe announces its enhanced portfolio of EPON optical transceivers for access networks

Fujikura Europe will be launching its new range of Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) optical transceivers for access networks from Sigma-Links, the joint venture between its parent company Fujikura Ltd and OKI Electric Industry Co. Ltd. at the ECOC show in Glasgow, Scotland this week.

This new portfolio of Small Form Factor transceivers used in Optical Line Terminals (OLT) and corresponding Optical Network Units (ONU) is the result of dedicated in-house research and development and includes their proprietary burst mode technology.

EPON access networks are an emerging network technology that provides a low-cost method of deploying FTTH technologies between supplier and customer. Utilising a point-to-multipoint architecture it provides low cost, high speed internet protocol video transmission, internet connections, VOIP and other broadband services over a single optical access system.

Upstream packets from the individual subscribers are combined using TDM and received by the OLT in the central office. Sigma-Links OLT transceiver is capable of error-free reception of these upstream Ethernet packets within the 400nsec stipulated by the IEEE 802.3ah. Importantly, this transceiver does not require a RESET signal that is commonly inserted between optical packets optimising the packet payload.

Similarly, for the subscriber/customer side of equipment located in the home, Sigma-Links SFF optical transceiver (ONU) series incorporates control circuitry that stabilises individual Ethernet packets within a mere 16nsec, which improves bandwidth efficiency.

“The communications industry is on the cusp of a revolution that will transform the landscape “says Simon Richardson, product manager at Fujikura Europe. “Deregulation, rapid decline of equipment costs and genuine demand for broadband services - this architecture is a mature, cost effective means of delivering bundled data, video, and voice services over a single platform.”

The OLT range of transceivers has an added Transmitter Failure Alarm output and comes in a SFF 2x6 pinout. The ONU series is available in an SFF 2x5 pinout. Sigma-Links series of EPON optical access network transceivers are fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3ah standard.

In addition, there are options available with expanded optical power budget between central office and subscribers. This enables PON systems with a larger number of splits leading to lower cost and higher efficiency.

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