A group of technology companies are backing an effort to promote the use of Ethernet in passive optical networks, a move proponents say will promote fiber access to residential customers. Potential members of the group include start-ups including Alloptic Inc. and OnePath Networks, as well as a few seasoned giants, such as Cisco and possibly Corning. Touted by carriers as an economical way to roll out fiber optic technology to homes and businesses, PONs can be built using relatively inexpensive telecommunications equipment. The equipment splits a single strand of fiber and allows the bandwidth to be shared among multiple users. These specifications were created over a ten-year period by vendors and carriers worldwide and adopted last year by the International Telecommunication Union.
Sources say it's time for a new approach, particularly when it comes to residential access.
But nothing's happened. The specs took 10 years to write, and they're still not finished. Trials haven't resulted in many new services. Meanwhile, Ethernet offers a faster, cheaper way to solve the problem. It's a logical leap.