Editorial
Passive optical network (PON) supported networking

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.osn.2014.02.001Get rights and content

Abstract

In this editorial, we first set the context for the subject matter of this special issue on passive optical network (PON) supported networking. This context includes a discussion of optical networking in all segments of a global communication network and the emphasis of the importance of PONs in the access network as well as their role supporting other communication network technologies. We follow this broader context with an introduction to the articles appearing in this special issue. Lastly, we conclude this editorial with a broad outlook to the future of PONs in communication networks.

Introduction

Passive optical network (PON) research and technology have matured in recent years and firmly established PONs as a key component for high-speed Internet access. In many instances users׳ private networks do not directly connect to PONs, but rather connect to PONs through other intermediate access technologies, such as DSL or cable networks [1].

As a specific example of a PON supported network, integrated fiber-wireless (FiWi) broadband access networks are expected to become an important infrastructure and service component for telecommunications as well as other economic sectors, most notably energy and transport. Beside incumbent and alternative telecom operators, utilities along with municipalities are increasingly responsible for a significant share of households passed with fiber-to-the-home/building (FTTH/B) in Europe as well as other regions worldwide. Business models along with technological choices will play key roles in the roll-out of future smart grid communications infrastructures. Such future infrastructures call for innovative partnerships between the various involved stakeholders, such as utility companies, network operators, and network service providers, as well as integration of the involved utility and networking technologies.

With the imminent confluence of energy and data networking, PONs will interface with a widening spectrum of users and applications. These applications may have conventional human-to-human (H2H) as well as machine-to-machine (M2M) specific traffic patterns and quality of service requirements that are very different from classical data users.

This special issue of Optical Switching and Networking seeks to provide a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in PON Supported Networking. The editorial for this special issue is organized as follows. Section 2 gives a brief review of the progression of optical networking research that has led to the exploration of PONs and their usage in larger interconnected network structures. The section gives succinct overviews of optical networking research in core, metro, as well as access networks, and culminates in an overview of present PON supported networks, such as hybrid access networks. Section 3 introduces the papers contained in this special issue. Building on the historical development leading to PON access networks and the snapshot of present research on PON supported networking, Section 4 outlines perspectives on the future development of PON supported networking. A vision for the integration of optical access/metro networks with the smart electric grid (smart grid) and their implications for a third industrial revolution are presented.

Section snippets

Origins

Optical networking has its origins in the desire to exploit the photonic properties of optical fiber for high-speed communication that is imperceptible to electro-magnetic interference. Optical fiber links have found wide-spread deployment in high-speed backbone links of the growing Internet. Broadly speaking, the optical networks that evolved over the past decades in support of communication over the Internet can be classified into core networks, metro networks, and access networks. In the

Overview of this special issue

This special issue of Optical Switching and Networking on PON supported networking contains seven articles. There is one article on the subject of PON supported digital subscriber line (DSL) access networks, two articles on the subject of PON supported wireless networks, two articles on the subject of energy efficiency for PON supported networks, and two articles on the subject of long-reach PONs.

Hybrid fiber/copper access networks have recently begun to receive some attention from the research

Outlook

Fig. 1 shows the anticipated next-generation PON (NG-PON) roadmap and migration from widely deployed ITU-T G.984 GPON and IEEE 802.3ah EPON to near-term NG-PON1 and mid- to long-term NG-PON2 broadband access solutions, as envisioned and widely agreed upon back in 2009. Beside resolving the notorious cost and complexity issues of cost-sensitive access networks, the primary design goal for future NG-PON1&2 broadband access networks was the provisioning of an ever increasing capacity over time, as

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