Capacity and Delay Analysis of Next-Generation Passive Optical Networks (NG-PONs) - Extended Version

TL;DR

This paper provides a probabilistic analysis of capacity and delay in next-generation passive optical networks, considering various network configurations and interconnections, to optimize throughput and latency performance.

Contribution

It introduces the first comprehensive analysis of NG-PON capacity and delay considering multiple interconnected PONs and various metro network topologies.

Findings

Accurately characterizes throughput-delay performance of EPON/GPON networks.

Identifies trade-offs and bottlenecks in metro area PON integration.

Validates analysis with numerical and simulation results.

Abstract

Building on the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) and Gigabit PON (GPON) standards, Next-Generation (NG) PONs (i) provide increased data rates, split ratios, wavelengths counts, and fiber lengths, as well as (ii) allow for all-optical integration of access and metro networks. In this paper we provide a comprehensive probabilistic analysis of the capacity (maximum mean packet throughput) and packet delay of subnetworks that can be used to form NG-PONs. Our analysis can cover a wide range of NG-PONs through taking the minimum capacity of the subnetworks making up the NG-PON and weighing the packet delays of the subnetworks. Our numerical and simulation results indicate that our analysis quite accurately characterizes the throughput-delay performance of EPON/GPON tree networks, including networks upgraded with higher data rates and wavelength counts. Our analysis also characterizes the trade-offs and bottlenecks when integrating EPON/GPON tree networks across a metro area with a ring, a Passive Star Coupler (PSC), or an Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) for uniform and non-uniform traffic. To the best of our knowledge, the presented analysis is the first to consider multiple PONs interconnected via a metro network.