In a PON, which fiber topology allows each customer to have a designated fiber?

In a Passive Optical Network (PON), the home-run topology is characterized by each customer having a dedicated fiber line directly running from the network terminal to their premises. This setup ensures that each end-user has a unique fiber connection, allowing for dedicated bandwidth and reducing the chance of network congestion that can occur with shared infrastructure.

The distinctive feature of home-run topology is its straightforward design, in which each fiber optic cable connects directly to the central office or distribution point. This direct connection ensures that individual users receive optimal performance and greater reliability, as there are fewer environmental factors or high usage from multiple users that could impact their service.

Conversely, other topologies like ring, tree, and star typically involve shared paths among multiple users. In a ring topology, for example, all nodes are connected in a loop, which can lead to shared bandwidth and potential disruptions if any single connection fails. Tree topology, while effective for branching networks, also shares fiber segments among multiple users, which can lead to contention for resources. Star topology connects multiple endpoints through a central hub but does not inherently guarantee that each endpoint has a dedicated fiber connection.

The home-run topology's direct approach makes it the ideal choice for ensuring dedicated service for individual customers in a PON design,