A passive optical LAN (POL) is a type of local area network that uses a single-mode fiber as its communication medium. Single modefiber arrives at an optical line terminal (ONT), typically located in a data center or main equipment room. Once at the ONT, multiple fibers are connected to it and the optical signal is converted to a balanced signal and transmitted via twisted-pair copper cabling. Unlike traditional LANs, passive optical LANs are not limited to a 100-meter channel distance. Single-mode fiber can travel as far as 20 kilometers, making it ideal for large facilities.
A passive optical LAN (POL) is becoming increasingly popular in businesses as more people take advantage of the capabilities of fiber. While fiber was once considered a luxury, it is now widely used for new construction, especially in the hospitality industry, as bandwidth demands continue to grow. Passive optical LAN technology is fast, reliable, and energy efficient, making it a valuable asset for business networks. The benefits of Passive Optical LAN systems are too numerous to ignore.
Latest report available at Coherent Market Insights indicates that Passive Optical LAN (POL) Market is expected to surpass US$ 200.7 Mn by 2028.
The primary driver for the emergence of passive optical LAN (POL) is the change from copper to fiber. Copper cable speeds are limited to about 55 meters, and Cat8 cables are the latest addition to the copper family. In the future, fiber optics will be able to support much higher data rates than copper cable, making this technology a valuable addition to any network.
In addition to delivering gigabit speeds, passive optical LAN (POL) also protects sensitive data and requires much less space, power, cooling, and maintenance. Unlike copper and other legacy LANs, passive optical LANs take up 200 times less space than traditional LAN equipment. And the optical fiber cables are more durable than copper and offer virtually unlimited bandwidth.
One of the biggest challenges in the adoption of passive optical LAN (POL) is a lack of awareness of the technology. Many people do not know the benefits of POL, but the cost of switching from copper to optical cabling is the biggest barrier. POL is much more expensive, but the benefits far outweigh the cons. For instance, in July 2020, Tellabs, a major passive optical LAN (POL) provider in the U.S., announced the successful completion of JITC testing for Tellabs Optical LAN (OLAN) hardware and software for the U.S. armed services.
