Advances in access networks - from long-reach (LR) to short-reach (SR), and from TDM/WDM to OFDM

Abstract

We discuss the progress and advances in access network, which is considered as the “last-mile” connection between the end-user and the network. Different challenges and possible solutions of access network will be discussed, including the long-reach (LR) passive-optical-network (PON) and the short-reach (SR) wireless fiber-to-the-antenna (FTTA) system. Moreover, orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) can provide one more degree of freedom besides the time-division-multiplexing (TDM) and wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) for network capacity sharing. And the applications of OFDM in access network will be discussed.