A single-fiber WDM local access network based on amplified LED transceivers

A potentially low-cost local access network is proposed and demonstrated. It provides point-to-point individual links carried by a single optical fiber between a central office and a passive router distributing the links to the users. The system is based on high-power LEDs, spectral slicing, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), and frequency routing. Each link is terminated at both ends by a single optical device transmitting and receiving alternatively according to the so-called "ping-pong" mode. Such an arrangement simplifies significantly the implementation of multiple access systems.