Technical and Economic Advantages
“The performance benefits of POL are substantial,” says Dr. Ian Timmins, vice president of Engineering, Enterprise Connectivity Products at OCC. “Fiber offers high-performance bandwidth over much greater distances than copper-based infrastructures. When you install a POL you’re really setting yourself up with a highly reliable infrastructure that’s far more future-proof than any conventional copper-based network.”
POL over single-mode fiber may represent a major bandwidth upgrade for enterprise networks currently operating with 1 to 10 Gbps to the desktop. Also, single-mode fiber reach for POL is in the 10-20 kilometers range, whereas conventional copper architecture is typically limited to a 100-meter channel.
Timmins adds that CapEx and OpEx advantages are significant as well. POL is significantly less costly than copper-based LANs. Investments in wiring closets and associated electronics and are eliminated as well as climate control costs. Installation costs are reduced because the fiber cables are less expensive and easier to install.
POL flattens the LAN by reducing the number of switches and routers on a network by connecting devices to a single switch rather than separate switches. Reaching multiple users with each fiber gives POL flexibility not present when compared to copper-based LANs.
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This architecture also addresses the “green” initiative and saves on costs at the same time. There is no electric power requirement for electronics between the OLT and users. The need for a telecommunications room, or wiring closet, is replaced with zone enclosures, eliminating the need for a closet cooling system while reducing power consumption.
POLs are also considerably more secure than legacy Ethernet networks. They are free from cross talk and interference. Conventional Ethernet LANs emit electromagnetic signals that can be intercepted. POLs, which contain all optical fiber, do not. They are non-flammable and require no EMI or FRI shielding. Plus, the POL supports security mechanisms such as AES (advanced encryption standard) 128-bit encryption.
Ease of Installation a Plus
Generally speaking, POLs are easier to installed because they are simpler, consisting mainly of fiber optics passing through splitters that deliver services to the user faceplates (to which their equipment is attached). Also, pathway space requirements, such as the headspace over drop ceilings, are reduced significantly.
A typical POL “zone” configuration is composed of an MDF (main distribution frame) that runs fiber to a zone distribution enclosure that is typically mounted in the ceiling. The zone distribution enclosure contains splitter cassettes (1×32 splitters) from which fiber is run to the user via ONT (optical network terminal). A copper patch cord connects the ONT to the user’s Ethernet NIC (network interface card).
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Some suppliers have developed proprietary POL devices to enhance ease of system installation. For example, OCC has developed two ceiling-mount zone enclosure versions. A standard model, which supports up to three 1×32 splitters, is 8.5 inches deep. A low-profile model, which is only 4 inches deep, is available for areas where there is less headroom above drop ceilings (due to air conditioning ductwork, fans etc.). The latter model supports a single 1×32 splitter.
The company also offers a small wall-mount enclosure for a 1×32 splitter for customers that require some additional ports after the initial POL installation. This model features removable adapter plate components for easier installation.
For retrofit installations, customers might prefer rack-mount, preconfigured enclosures. “These are available for those retrofit installations where rack space is already in place, and the customer would prefer to continue using it,” Timmins says. “However, with retrofit POL solutions, having existing telcom closet space is unnecessary.”
