Extending EPON’s efficiencies to solve service provider challenges

PETALUMA, USA: Teknovus, the leading provider of Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) chipsets for deployment of triple-play residential and business services in broadband access networks, announced the availability of the TK3401, the Intelligent EPON Node Controller.

The TK3401 SOC (System-on-Chip) facilitates evolution of the PON network by extending central office (OLT) to subscriber (ONU) distances up to 100 km and by supporting connections to over 1,000 subscriber ONUs while supporting remote management, configuration and upgrade, protection switching, and low power operation.

Teknovus’ TK3401 Intelligent EPON Node Controller enables service providers to meet the varying needs of network topologies and subscriber densities with all of the feature, power and cost advantages of the Teknovus EPON solution.

With the rapid expansion of EPON-based access networks, service providers are choosing solutions that support network flexibility and extension to meet the diverse demands of residential, business and mobile backhaul applications. The TK3401 Intelligent EPON Node Controller enables:

• Up to 100 km extended service coverage to reach remote subscribers and support consolidation of central office and cable head-end facilities.
• High OLT port efficiency and cost savings through aggregation of lightly-loaded and geographically dispersed subscriber ONUs; particularly important for cable MSOs supporting subscribers in rural deployments.
• Maximized fiber capacity for multiple dwelling unit (MDU) deployments, supporting up to 1,000 subscribers with FTTH (fiber to each unit).

Barry Gray, Director of Marketing, Teknovus said: “The TK3401 enables significant network flexibility and enhanced service models for service providers as they extend PON to distant subscribers and high-density MDU FTTH environments. While these two scenarios are quite different, they pose similar challenges for service providers – how to efficiently use fiber across challenging subscriber-density topologies. In addition, our TK3401 is remotely managed through the OLT, enabling reconfiguration, problem diagnosis and resolution without expensive truck rolls.”

China will end 2009 with more than 16 million EPON subscribers, according to China Telecom, slightly exceeding the 15 million forecast for Japan. With several million additional subscribers in Korea, Eastern Europe and the US, the total EPON subscriber forecast is well over 35 million for year-end 2009.

Jeff Heynen, Directing Analyst Broadband and Video, Infonetics, stated: "2009 has been a boom year for EPON, with major deployments in every province in China. In addition, the major US MSOs are testing EPON for business, residential and mobile backhaul applications.

"Teknovus’ Intelligent EPON Node Controller extends EPON’s efficiencies to long-distances and both MDU and lightly-loaded topologies, while providing all of Teknovus’ advantages for triple-play residential services, enterprise Internet and voice connectivity, and 2G/3G/4G cellular backhaul transport."