Survivability techniques for NG-PONs and FiWi access networks

Survivability will play a more prominent role in emerging high-speed, multichannel, long-reach next-generation passive optical networks (NG-PONs) than it did in conventional PONs. In this paper, we report on some of the most promising NG-PON survivability techniques such as dual homing, hitless protection switching by means of equalization delays, interconnection fibers, protection rings, and meshed PON topologies, including their cost-benefit analysis for different population densities. We pay particular attention to the design of advanced in-service monitoring techniques for fault detection and localization in PON distribution fibers and study the merits of combining partial optical protection with wireless protection for realizing reliable fiber-wireless (FiWi) access networks and exploiting them to improve the survivability of other critical networks such as the future smart grid.