The application of optical multichannel techniques to the subscriber access area

The installation of single-mode optical fibers within the subscriber access area can reduce network operating costs for the provision of basic services. The resulting passive optical network can then support the use of optical multichannel techniques to meet future demand for higher rate services. The authors consider two options for providing basic services and describe some of the ways in which the services can evolve on this installed fiber base via the addition of a 1500-nm broadband overlay. The concept of multichannel communication via high-density wavelength-division multiplexing and some of the important component requirements are also described