FTTX: Today and Tomorrow

Optical fiber continues its historic worldwide push to bring fiber optic technology closer to those who need access to voice, video and data communications.  As we watch the winter Olympics, we should keep in mind that the video is being broadcast worldwide over fiber optics and those who have fiber to their residence have a direct fiber optic link to the cameras at the venue sites.

Through the short history of optical fiber technology, we have seen immense amounts of fibers installed worldwide.  Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), first developed and installed in the 1990s, brought us immense bandwidth capacity linking continents, countries, and cities. The same technology taught us how to make optical components that could split, multiplex, filter, switch and direct light economically.  Since the first field trials in the 1980s, fiber to the user has evolved to directly link millions of homes and businesses with optical fibers. This communications reality changed economics as users can now work directly from home and communicate worldwide.

The FTTx Center at this year's OFC/NFOEC offers direct access to related organizations and manufacturers of optical components, sub assemblies, systems and test equipment.  This year, 25 companies and organizations and industry specialists will be available to answer questions.  The education center and literature area is also staffed and can provide expertise as needed.

As FTTx moves forward, the latest innovations are taking advantage of recent Gigabit technologies that have been standardized. This has led to the deployment of "next generation" networks (NGPON) as well as other recent technological advancements, such as radio frequency over glass (RFOG) for the CATV industry, four-wavelength PON, and WDM-PON.

Larry Johnson
The Light Brigade - FTTx Center Coordinator
www.lightbrigade.com