GEPON - Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network

GPON is a fiber optic system that the ITU standardized in 2003 with the designation "G.984 Gigabit capable passive optical networks". A variant of this is GEPON. Also standardized by the IEEE and mainly used in Asia. GPON is the successor to ATM-PON and BPON (G.983). The standards also originate from the ITU.

GPON is a passive fiber optic network that does not require expensive active components. GPON relies on a point-to-multipoint topology for the fiber optic infrastructure. From a central switch "OLT-Optical Line Terminal", the subscribers are supplied. The individual subscribers are served by passive optical splitters that function like prisms. The light signal is scattered to several outputs. Through the splitter, multiple users 4/8/16/32/64 or 128 users can share a bandwidth of 2.48 Gbps (about 2.5 Gbps) downstream and 1.24 Gbps (about 1.25 Gbps) upstream.

The advantage of passive fiber networks is the lower cost compared to fiber networks with active components.

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