GPON stands for ‘Gigabit Passive Optical Network’. GPON is one of the key technologies that are being used in fiber-based (FTTx) access networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), fiber to the business (FTTB), fiber to the curb (FTTC), etc.
GPON systems contain two main active transmission components:
- Optical Line Termination (OLT)
- Optical Network Termination (ONT) or Optical Network Unit (ONU)
Modern OLTs and ONT/ONUs use compact fiber optic modules to achieve Triple-play GPON services. These modules are known as GPON SFP transceivers.
What Is a GPON SFP?
SFP stands for ‘Small Form-factor Pluggable’. A GPON SFP is one type of Gigabit Optical Transceivers that are used in GPON system, which is compliant with ITU-T G.984.2 standard. It is a bidirectional module that has SC receptacle and works over simplex single-mode fiber optic cable.
A GPON SFP module transmits and receives signals of different wavelengths between the OLT at the ‘Central Office’ side and the ONT at the end users side. GPON SFPs utilize both the upstream data and downstream data by means of Optical Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM).
GPON SFP: Class B+ vs. Class C+
GPON SFP transceivers are categorized into GPON OLT SFP and GPON ONT SFP or GPON ONU SFP depending on the devices they are used in. And there are Class B+ GPON SFP and Class C+ GPON SFP.
The major differences between them are the transmit power and the receive sensitivity. The table below lists the TX power and RX sensitivity of Class B+ GPON SFP and Class C+ GPON SFP:
| SFP Module | B+ | C+ |
| Type | One fiber, Bi-directional Optical Module | |
| Operating Wavelength | TX: 1490nm RX: 1310nm |
|
| Port Rate | TX: 2.49 Gbit/sec RX: 1.24 Gbit/sec |
|
| Minimum Output Optical Power |
1.50 dBm | 3.00 dBm |
| Maximum Output Optical Power |
5.00 dBm | 7.00 dBm |
| Maximum Receiver Sensitivity |
-28 dBm | -32 dBm |
| Optical Connector Type | SC/PC | |
| Optical Fiber Type | Singlemode | |
| Distance | 20 KM | |
| Overload Optical Power | -8 dBm | -12 dBm |
| Extinction Ratio | 8.2 dB | |
Benefits of Using GPON SFPs
Using a GPON SFP is considered a more convenient and cost-effective solution for the end customers. And it also reduces the devices that need to be provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). The SFP module has simplified the implementation of GPON services. It benefits both the service providers and the end users, making using GPON a cost-effective and efficient way of delivering high quality broadband services.