Abstract

Previous analyses and demonstrations of passive-optical-network (PON) architectures^1,2 have generally focused on the loop portion of the network. This paper extends the bounds of all-optical network design through the local central office (CO) and into the interoffice network, in a manner that should facilitate graceful introduction of PON and broadband (e.g., asynchronous-transfer-mode, or ATM) technologies. In the early stages of network evolution, not all COs will have ATM switching capabilities; hence, in many cases broadband PON signals will have to be routed to distant switching facilities rather than merely terminated at the local CO. We demonstrate that a combination of splitter-based and WDM-based transmission techniques affords an effective solution to this problem.

© 1991 Optical Society of America