Demonstration of an ATM-based passive optical network in the FTTH trial on Bermuda

Multimedia communication has become the driving force for installing broadband systems in the public network. Different alternative solutions have been presented to realise a broadband interactive access network, such as installing optical fiber or upgrading the existing copper network with ADSL for twisted pair or hybrid fiber-coax for CATV networks. Among these alternatives, optical fiber access networks are seen as the most future safe solution. Especially passive optical networks have shown to be a cost effective way to introduce fiber in the access network today. This paper presents an ATM-based passive optical network (APON) that has been installed for a video on demand (VOD) trial on Bermuda. An overview is given of the configuration of the network and of the operation of the VOD service. The basic principles of the operation of the APON access network are presented.