PLC optical splitter for local and terminal equipment in PON networks

Optical splitters are one of the most important passive optical components in optical fiber communication. According to the principle, optical splitters can be divided into fused fiber optic splitter type (FBT) and planar lightwave circuit type (PLC).
PLC optical splitter is a kind of integrated waveguide optical distribution device based on quartz substrate, with the characteristics of small size, wide wavelength range, high reliability and good uniformity of optical distribution. It is especially suitable for connecting local equipment and terminal equipment of passive optical networks (such as EPON, BPON, GPON, etc.) and realizing optical signal branching.
There are several types of PLC optical splitters: bare fiber type, ABS box type, plug-in cassette type, rack panel type and rack mount termination box type.
Compared with fused fiber splitters (FBTs), PLC splitters have the following advantages: (1) The optical loss is not affected by the wavelength of light, and it can meet the transmission needs of various wavelengths. (2) It can distribute optical signals to users evenly. (3) The compact structure and small volume allow it to be directly installed in various existing fiber distribution products such as fiber patch panels, fiber distribution boxes, and fiber termination boxes. (4) One device can carry a large number of fiber channels, reaching more than 64 channels. (5) The cost of multi-channel PLC splitters is low, and the more channels there are, the more obvious the cost advantages are.