Image: fiber optic light, courtesy of APOLAN
The modern enterprise is rapidly evolving with user demand for next-generation communications, applications and services challenging the most robust network architectures—even in a worship setting.
Any building or campus—including churches—that needs to support today and tomorrow’s next generation applications (IoT, Smart Building, etc.) and communication needs will benefit....
Churches require a reliable, high-performance and scalable local area network (LAN) that can withstand the test of time and deliver virtually unlimited bandwidth as applications and services evolve. That’s why church integrators need to stay up with the latest technology, which is why anyone working on a new or renovated church project needs to understand the passive optical network (PON) and passive optical LAN (POL).
The "what"
A PON is a fiber-optic network utilizing a point-to-multipoint topology and optical splitters to deliver data from a single transmission point to multiple user endpoints. Passive, in this context, refers to the unpowered condition of the fiber and splitting/combining components.
Churches require a reliable, high-performance and scalable local area network (LAN) that can withstand the test of time and deliver virtually unlimited bandwidth as applications and services evolve.
In contrast to an active optical network, electrical power is only required at the send and receive points, making a PON inherently efficient from an operation cost standpoint. Passive optical networks are used to simultaneously transmit signals in both the upstream and downstream directions to and from the user endpoints.
PON networks adopt a Point-to-multipoint (P2MP) architecture which utilizes optical splitters to divide the downstream signal from a single OLT into multiple downstream paths to the end users, the same splitters combine the multiple upstream paths from the end users back to the OLT.
Understanding POL
The Association for Passive Optical LAN (APOLAN) explains, through its spokesperson, that POL is based on PON technology, optical fiber cabling, and advanced Ethernet.
“G-PON and 10G XGS-PON is a field-proven and mature technology the is used to deliver commercial and mission critical broadband services to millions of FTTH users worldwide,” the spokesperson says, through media contact Kendra Westerkamp with APOLAN. “POL architecture includes single centralized active equipment or Optical Line Terminal (OLT), a simple and passive fiber network and thin-client edge devices or Optical Network Terminals (ONTs).”
“POL architecture includes single centralized active equipment or Optical Line Terminal (OLT), a simple and passive fiber network and thin-client edge devices or Optical Network Terminals (ONTs).” Association for Passive Optical LAN
POL infrastructure uses fiber optic cabling, which provides bandwidth measured in terabytes. It also reduces network complexity, is flexible and scalable and enables convergence of all services (voice, data and video) on to one single network.
Because of POL’s simple and centralized architecture, multiple distribution layers typical for traditional LAN are removed. The workgroup switches are replaced with passive equipment (splitters and panels) that don’t consume energy and don’t require maintenance. With POL, the OLT is the only active element that requires maintenance. The entire network can be easily managed from one central point.
Before POL was available, traditional copper-based LANs were used. Not only is this legacy LAN infrastructure unable to deliver the benefits required in today’s workplace, it also comes with an extremely hefty price tag to upgrade and maintain.
Passive Optical LAN’s popularity is on the rise as enterprises are experiencing increased pressure to meet growing bandwidth consumption demands. POL delivers the reliable, scalable, secure and high bandwidth backbone networks that companies require to meet today's and tomorrow's connectivity needs. As a result, more and more enterprise companies are seeking reliable, cost-efficient, and flexible alternatives to copper-based networks.
Compared to traditional copper-based cabling, optical fiber cabling provides so many unique benefits, including higher capacity, reliability, resilience, and data security.
Passive Optical LAN architectures provide tremendous improvements in the design and deployment of local area networks (LAN). Composed almost entirely of single-mode fiber optic cable, a Passive Optical LAN can span for 20 km (12.5 miles) or more depending on the optics and splitter ratios deployed.
“While not all networks may need to span such distances, it is particularly advantageous for multi-story buildings and campus networks where mid-span switching equipment is eliminated entirely." Association for Passive Optical LAN
“While not all networks may need to span such distances, it is particularly advantageous for multi-story buildings and campus networks where mid-span switching equipment is eliminated entirely,” the spokesperson says. “Even single-building networks can take advantage of these flexible distances by no longer requiring a telecommunications closet or switch every 300 feet as is the case with legacy network architectures.”
The future
POL delivers numerous advantages and benefits for a variety of organization and businesses. Any building or campus—including churches—that needs to support today's and tomorrow’s next generation applications (IoT, Smart Building, etc.) and communication needs can benefit from the future-ready network technology backbone that is Passive Optical LAN.
