Results from the EU project ACCORDANCE on converged OFDMA-PON networks

The ACCORDANCE OFDMA-PON architecture has been proposed as an attractive candidate for next generation PON networks. The benefits brought by this concept include ultra-high data rates, extensive node consolidation and convergence of multiple services within the same optical distribution network infrastructure, more flexible, two-dimensional bandwidth management, as well as the opportunity for cross-layer optimization. Moreover, OFDMA-PON is expected to scale better to increased (> 10 Gbps) aggregate data rates than existing TDMA-PONs. The ACCORDANCE project addresses a wide range of aspects related to OFDMA-PON. This includes architectural issues, physical layer OFDM transmission studies, OLT/ONU Tx/Rx system design, MAC protocol and algorithm design/implementation and wireless backhauling/fronthauling. This paper provides an overview of the activities within the ACCORDANCE consortium and the solutions selected by the project partners to address the aforementioned issues.