DECEMBER 1, 2009 -- Teknovus, a provider of Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) chipsets for deployment of triple-play residential and business services in broadband access networks, has announced the availability of TK3401, the intelligent EPON node controller. The TK3401 SoC (system-on-chip) facilitates evolution of the PON network by extending central office (optical line terminal - OLT) to subscriber (optical networking unit - ONU) distances up to 100 km and by supporting connections to more than 1,000 subscriber ONUs while supporting remote management, configuration and upgrade, protection switching, and low-power operation. The controller enables service providers to meet the varying needs of network topologies and subscriber densities.
With the expansion of EPON-based access networks, service providers are choosing technologies that support network flexibility and extension to meet the diverse demands of residential, business, and mobile backhaul applications. The TK3401 enables the following:
- up to 100-km extended service coverage to reach remote subscribers and support consolidation of central office and cable headend 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)
"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," says Barry Gray, director of marketing, Teknovus. "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 U.S., the total EPON subscriber forecast is well over 35 million for year-end 2009. Jeff Heynen, directing analyst, broadband and video, at Infonetics, says, "2009 has been a boom year for EPON, with major deployments in every province in China. In addition, the major U.S. MSOs are testing EPON for business, residential, and mobile backhaul applications. Teknovus's intelligent EPON node controller extends EPON's efficiencies to long distances and both MDU and lightly loaded topologies, while providing all of Teknovus's advantages for triple-play residential services, enterprise Internet and voice connectivity, and 2G/3G/4G cellular backhaul transport."
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