Which type of Passive Optical Network (PON) topology places the optical splitters at the headend and then routes them to each individual customer premises?

The question pertains to the configuration of Passive Optical Networks (PON) and how they distribute signals from a central point to multiple end-users. The correct answer highlights a setup where each customer connection is made directly from a central point—often termed the headend—without additional branching after the splitter.

In a home-run topology, each customer is connected directly to the headend, meaning that all optic fibers run independently from the central point to each subscriber's location. This configuration ensures that every user receives a direct line, which can facilitate simplicity in troubleshooting and maintenance. Moreover, this type of setup can lead to enhanced performance as the signal degradation is minimized over shorter distances compared to other topologies.

Other options like tree, star, and ring configurations involve more complex arrangements. A tree topology introduces branching at different points, which can lead to additional considerations regarding signal strength and distribution efficiency as users are connected through intermediate nodes. A star topology has multiple direct connections to a central node, but typically implies a central switch rather than a single headend. A ring topology involves forming a closed loop, where data travels around the entire loop, which is not suited to the specified description of having splitters directly at the headend.

Thus, the characteristic of routing directly from