What type of beam splitter is used in FTTR

In FTTR systems, a beam splitter (optical splitter) distributes the optical signal from the main FTTR unit to multiple sub-units or rooms, enabling gigabit connectivity throughout the building.

How FTTR Uses Optical Splitters

FTTR (Fiber to the Room) extends fiber directly to each room, providing high-speed, low-latency internet. To efficiently distribute the optical signal from a single fiber to multiple endpoints, optical splitters (beam splitters) are used. These splitters take the light signal from the main FTTR unit and divide it into multiple outputs, typically supporting up to 16 sub-FTTR units in residential setups . This allows each room to receive a dedicated fiber connection without requiring separate fibers from the central OLT for each endpoint.

Types and Functionality

Optical splitters can be PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) or FBT (Fused Biconical Taper) types. They are passive devices that split the incoming light into two or more outputs, with key parameters including:

• Split Ratio: Determines how the optical power is divided among outputs (e.g., 1:2, 1:4, 1:16).
• Insertion Loss: The signal loss introduced by the splitter, which must be minimized to maintain gigabit speeds . In practice, a beam splitter cube or a PLC splitter module is installed between the main FTTR unit (or ONT) and the sub-FTTR units. The main FTTR sends the optical signal to the splitter, which then distributes it to each room's sub-unit, maintaining high-speed connectivity and enabling seamless Wi-Fi handover between rooms .

Practical Setup

1. Main FTTR Unit: Connects to the incoming fiber from the OLT or GPON network.
2. Optical Splitter: Receives the main fiber and splits the signal to multiple outputs.
3. Sub-FTTR Units: Each output from the splitter connects to a sub-unit in a room, providing gigabit Wi-Fi and Ethernet ports. Some FTTR systems, like Huawei's OptiXstar series, integrate power over fiber (PoF) to supply power to sub-units, simplifying installation and reducing the need for separate electrical wiring .

Benefits

• Efficient fiber usage: One fiber can serve multiple rooms.
• High-speed coverage: Each room receives a dedicated optical signal.
• Scalability: Splitters allow easy expansion to additional rooms or devices.
• Reduced interference: Optical distribution avoids Wi-Fi congestion and signal degradation common in traditional mesh networks . In summary, connecting FTTR to a beam splitter is a standard method to extend fiber connectivity to multiple rooms, ensuring reliable gigabit speeds and seamless network performance throughout a building.