Best Practices and Strategies for Broadband Deployment - Adoption, Usage, and Global Impact of Broadband Technologies - page 131

Table 2. Comparison of BPON, EPON and GPON

BPON EPON GPON

Standard ITU (G.983) ITU-T (G.984) IEEE (802.3ah)

Max. Throughput 622 Mbps 2.488 Gbps 1.25 Gbps

Bandwidth Support Symmetrical (622/622) Asymmetrical (2.4/1.2) Symmetrical (1.25/1.25)

Network Interfaces ATM ATM, TDM, GbE GbE

Network Reach Up to 20 km Up to 60 km Up to 20 km

Pros • Multiservice (TDM, Data, Video)

• Fully defined carrier-class man-
agement
• Widely deployed technology
• Supported by major vendors
• Carrier-Class TDM (low jitter,
low delay synchronous transport
for structured and unstructured
TDM traffic)

• Leverages Ethernet cost ef-
ficiencies
• Easy interface with carrier
Ethernet networks
• More mature than GPON
• Maintains benefit of faster
development cycles
• Lower cost optics
• Simplicity of IP management

• Low delay for TDM traffic in
mixed mode only
• Mixed traffic mapping

Cons • Lower upstream bandwidth • “Best Effort” syndrome

• Overhead reduces useable
bandwidth
• Higher delays and jitter due to
store and-forward architecture
• Undefined Multiservice
• Poor QoS without per-flow
queuing
• Lack of Carrier-Class man-
agement

• More expensive than EPONs
• System complexity hampers
cost reduction efforts
• Complex implementation for
mixed mode traffic
• Higher cost optics

BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES
FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT

Ethernet Point-to-Point (PtP) systems are also
often deployed. Examples are Metro Ethernet
switches and IP edge routers (KEYMILE, 2008).
However, optical Ethernet technology can also be
used economically for direct subscriber connection
via fibre optics. To date, existing systems in the IT
world were simply converted and therefore not cost
effective. Current FTTx systems offer very high
fibre optic port densities, low power consumption
and functions specifically for FTTH/FTTB appli-
cations. In contrast to PON systems, today's FTTx
systems are cost effective and designed specially
for use in harsh environmental conditions in pub-
lic networks. Ethernet PtP systems use standard
Ethernet technology for transmitting services to
the end subscriber. Commonly available compo-
nents, such as switches and routers with optical
interfaces, can therefore be used for the subscriber
as CPE (Customer Premises Equipment).

Broadband and Economy

Broadband infrastructure is fundamental for the
efficient participation of companies and organisa-
tions in today's economic. According to a study
from Strategic Networks Group (SNG, 2009) local
economy development and the secondary invest-
ment which is done through broadband is ten times
the initial broadband investment. Broadband today
is so vital like the electricity in 1930 and increase
the participation of digital economy and improve
the quality of life (Copps, 2001; OECD, 2001).
Broadband is needed as a complementary
investment to other infrastructure such as build-
ings, roads, transportation systems, health and
electricity grids, allowing them to be character-
ized as “smart”. Broadband networks increase