Wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) technologies for broadband access: a review [Invited]

The passive optical network (PON) is an optical fiber based network architecture, which can provide much higher bandwidth in the access network compared to traditional copper-based networks. Incorporating wavelength- division multiplexing (WDM) in a PON allows one to support much higher bandwidth compared to the standard PON, which operates in the "single-wavelength mode" where one wavelength is used for upstream transmission and a separate one is used for downstream transmission. We present a comprehensive review of various aspects of WDM-PONs proposed in the literature. This includes enabling device technologies for WDM- PONs and network architectures, as well as the corresponding protocols and services that may be deployed on a WDM- PON. The WDM- PON will become a revolutionary and scalable broadband access technology that will provide high bandwidth to end users. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.