We now have more and more bandwidth requirements, so the use of mobile applications and services continues to grow, and wireless service providers must find cost-effective ways to meet bandwidth needs. Traditional transport networks can no longer adequately serve today's cell sites. Newer technologies such as GPON, WDM-PON, and Ethernet over CWDM/DWDM are well suited to cost-effectively meet the growing bandwidth demands of wireless service providers. Regardless of the technology used, Croft's products are an integral part of the solution.
GPON
While GPON has been used as the technology of choice in high-speed access networks for inexpensive access services, it has recently begun to spread to business access. With the ability to deliver up to 10Gbps per GPON port, it is also a cost-effective technology for delivering higher bandwidth to cell towers.
Whether the GPON splitter is collocated with the OLT or distributed in the field, multiple splitter modules may be required to handle each service area. For this, we can provide up to 16 GPON splitters in a single 1RU chassis, whereas traditional solutions can only provide a single GPON splitter in the same footprint. Additionally, traditional LGX solutions require at least 4RU to provide the same density.
wavelength division multiplexing
Building on the advantages of GPON, shared infrastructure and a single OLT transponder, WDM-PON offers the added advantage of delivering dedicated wavelengths to each ONT. Unlike GPON, WDM-PON does not use splitters. Instead, arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) are used to multiplex and demultiplex wavelengths between feeder fibers and distribution fibers. The result is dedicated bandwidth and a more secure network for each subscriber (or in this case, cell towers). Another advantage of WDM-PON is the ability to add or subtract wavelengths on intermediate cell towers between mobile switching centers.
As with GPON splitters, multiple AWGs may be required at both ends of a WDM-PON network. We can also accommodate up to 12 AWGs in a single 1RU chassis. Additionally, our products are flexible and can also accommodate passive OADMs for intermediate add/drop.
Ethernet over CWDM/DWDM
Of course, one of the best ways to increase the bandwidth of a cell tower served by fiber is to simply increase the bandwidth capacity by delivering multiple wavelengths to sites that are close to network saturation. The easiest way is to use passive CWDM and DWDM multiplexers/demultiplexers.
cwdm wavelength division multiplexing
Like WDM-PON, passive OADMs (optical add/drop multiplexers) can be used to add/drop one or more wavelengths on base station towers between mobile switching centers.
Similar to the other technologies mentioned earlier, CWDM/DWDM multiplexers can be provided as well as passive OADMs. Up to 16 mux/OADM modules can be accommodated in one chassis.
generalize
As mobile data traffic continues to grow, operators must find the most cost-effective and efficient solutions to provide bandwidth to each tower. Technologies that allow shared infrastructure allow operators to achieve more immediate ROI. However, since mature FTTH solutions such as FTTH (e.g. GPON) have shared bandwidth, they may not be sufficient to support mobile backhaul, and they may face more bandwidth contention even on 10G GPON. In this case, WDM-PON or CWDM/DWDM based Ethernet solutions may be the answer. Regardless of the underlying technology used, the needs of any passive optical network can be met in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.
