www. AFLglobal. com/ go/ FTTx ( 800) 235- 3423 | + 1 ( 864) 433- 0333 SMART CONNECTIONS Increasing demand for high- speed broadband Internet access, TV, telephone and wireless services is driving businesses to invest in or expand upon state- of- the- art fiber optic networks. Businesses are looking for knowledgeable, reliable and experienced partners for end- to- end fiber network solutions. Uniquely poised for the growth of FTTx markets, AFL is the only provider that offers a portfolio including active electronics and end- to- end passive infrastructure. With an unsurpassed knowledge of end- to- end, cost- effective solutions, AFL can help you bring fiber to the last mile— to your subscriber. FEATURE Annual technology forecast 2013 LAST YEAR’S FORECAST for FTTx, specifically FTTH, was divided into good news and bad news. This year’s good news is that at least two of last year’s bad news items – fiber shortages and delays in broadband stimulus programs – have cleared up. In 2013 we’ll continue to see focus on multiple- dwelling units ( MDUs), with some of these advances affecting single- family applications as well. The most visible – well, more accurately, less visible – advances will continue in the cabling arena, where we’ll to see further steps taken to make installations down hallways and into apartments less obtrusive and unsightly. The ONTs/ ONUs for these applications by definition are designed for indoor use. These units will also show up more frequently in single- family applications and will continue their current evolution toward becoming full residential gateways with integrated wireless- router capabilities. Meanwhile, the impact of the ITU- T’s G. hn home wiring specification may finally be measurable in 2013 – which may not prove the same as being significant. Out in the field, work on next generation PON technology also will progress. The 2012 event that may have had the most impact on 2013 technology development was FSAN’s adoption of a TDM and WDM approach to WDM- PON ( TWDM- PON). The proposed architecture stacks independent ( and potentially pre- existing) PONs on multiple wavelengths, with the further ability to overlay conventional WDM capabilities on the same fiber to support high bandwidth requirements such as business services. Technology decision makers at Verizon have publicly stated their preference for TWDM- PON over 10G- GPON ( XG- PON1) – and sources within the PON- vendor community suggest the largest GPON deployer in the U. S. isn’t alone in this sentiment. With XG- PON1 specifications still not entirely wrapped up, we wonder how many vendors will switch 10G- GPON development resources to TWDM- PON. FTTx expansion should continue ______________________________