Passive optical subscriber loops with multiaccess

Deployment of optical fiber in the subscriber loop may eventually lead to a full-scale deployment of the broadband network. A network architecture that can be introduced inexpensively to meet the near-term demand and upgraded smoothly to support future needs is desired. The feasibility of applying multiaccess architectures to subscriber loops is studied, and five architectures for passive optical subscriber loops that meet this need are presented. All of these architectures use a double-star topology and dense wavelength division multiplexing in the downstream direction; however, various topologies and multiaccess techniques are used in the upstream direction. Limitations on node size, frame synchronization, cost, privacy and security, and standards are discussed