Locally powering fiber-in-the-loop voice lines

Bellcore's preliminary and evolving views are presented of a generic architecture for powering the optical network unit (ONU) locally for voice lines. A typical local power architecture is discussed that can be used to provide power and backup power for the ONU in a fiber-to-the-curb system. The architecture is intended to provide the power and backup power in a reliable and cost-effective manner. A principal disadvantage of the local power architecture-limited reserve time-might be minimized by the power-down mode of the ONU and by rating battery capacity in call-hours as opposed to continuous usage. The power-down mode reduces the amount of batteries required at each ONU site, or provides longer battery backup times for the same amount of batteries. The savings with the power-down mode are not merely constrained to the first cost of the batteries, but are compounded considerably with savings in maintenance, replacement, and disposal costs of the batteries.<>