White Paper

GPON - EPON Comparison

CommScope Solutions Marketing
October 2013

Contents
Introduction 3 Protocol fundamentals Framing/service adaption Basic operation Service hierarchy Bandwidth allocation Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) Control messages ONT discovery & activation Encryption Bandwidth and efficiency Ethernet service support Bridging Transparent LAN Services (TLS) 4 4 5 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10

Conclusion 10

Passive Optical Networking (PON) technology has been available since the mid-1990s. Significant development activities occurred during the early 2000s to develop Gigabit rate solutions designed to deliver Ethernet and IP services. Two very different solutions were developed by the IEEE and ITU-TEPON and GPON, respectively. While the general concepts (PON operation, ODN framework, wavelength plan, and application) are the same for both EPON and GPON, their operation is very different, as are the features and services supported by each. EPON is a native Ethernet solution that leverages the features, compatibility and performance of the Ethernet protocol, while GPON leverages the techniques of SONET/ SDH and Generic Framing Protocol (GFP) to transport Ethernet.

Introduction
PON standardization activities have been ongoing for the past fifteen years within the ITU-T and IEEE standards bodies. EPON and 10G-EPON are the latest ratified IEEE standards and GPON is the latest ratified ITU-T standard. Figure 1 shows some of the key historical milestones:

FASN starts first formal PON activity. 155MBps APON ITU G.983 series

Enhanced to BPON 622/155Mbps with 3rd lambda, protection and DBA

ITU approves GPON

EPON ratified by IEEE

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001
EFM starts work on 802.3ah incl EPON

2002

2003

2004

Figure 1: PON Standardization

FSAN starts GPON work G.984 series = extension of G.983 series up to 2.4 Gbps

Initial PON offerings in the early and mid-1990s were based on ATM framing (APON, BPON). With the explosion of Internet- and intranet-based traffic in the years following, ATM-based BPON systems proved to be very inefficient, as the vast majority of traffic through the access network consisted of variable-length IP traffic. This became the catalyst for the development of a purely Ethernet-based PON (EPON), taking advantage of emerging QOSaware Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch silicon, evolving Ethernet standards (VLANs, prioritization, OAM), and cost-effective integration with other Ethernet equipment. Development of the Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) standard started after proposals by FSAN members (Quantum Bridge et al) for a dual Gigabit speed ATM/ Ethernet PON solution were not able to gain support within the IEEE 802.3ah work groups and decided to continue this work within the ITU. EPON and GPON both draw heavily from G.983, the BPON standard for their general concepts (PON operation, ODN framework, wavelength plan, and application). Also, both were designed to better accommodate variable-length IP frames at Gigabit line rates. There are, however, significant differences in the approaches used by each.

Protocol fundamentals
EPON is based upon IEEE 802.3 Ethernet that was modified to support point-to-multipoint (P2MP) connectivity. Ethernet traffic is transported natively and all Ethernet features are fully supported. GPON, on the other hand, is fundamentally a transport protocol, wherein Ethernet services are adapted at the OLT and ONT Ethernet interfaces and carried over an agnostic synchronous framing structure from end to end.

Framing/service adaption
The GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) layer is responsible for mapping service-specific interfaces (e.g. Ethernet) into a common service-agnostic framework.

GPON layering
Various services T1/E1 TDM POTS Data Video

EPON layering
T1/E1 TDM POTS Data Video

Layer 5

Layer 5

Layer 4 Layer 3

TCP+UDP etc IP Ethernet

Layer 4 Layer 3

TCP+UDP etc IP

Layer 2

ATM cell

GEM frame GTC TC frame GTC sub-layer

Layer 2
Ethernet frame MAC layer

Layer 1

PON-PHY

Layer 1

PON-PHY

Figure 2: GPON vs. EPON Protocol

Ethernet frames are encapsulated into GTC Encapsulation Method (GEM) frames, which have a GFP-like format (derived from Generic Frame Procedure ITU G.7401). GEM frames are, in turn, encapsulated into a SONET/SDH-like GTC frame (in both upstream and downstream directions) that is transported synchronously every 125 sec over the PON.

T = 125 msec PCBd Payload PCBd Payload

PURE ATM cells selection

TDM and data fragments over GEM section

PCBd = Physical Control Block Downstream

Figure 3: Downstream GTC Frames

In contrast, EPON carries Ethernet frames natively on the PON with no changes or modifications. There is no need for extra adaption and encapsulation.

Service adaption Ethernet

Service adaption

Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet

GTC Frame

GEM XC
GEM

GEM XC

OLT

Ethernet

ONT

GPON
Service adaption Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet
Ethernet

Ethernet Switch

Ethernet Switch

OLT

ONT

EPON
Figure 4: Framing in GPON and EPON

Basic operation
As shown above, EPON is an IEEE Ethernet architecture. Its downstream media access control (MAC) works in the same manner as a standard GbE MAC, where all Ethernet traffic is broadcast. Optical splitters are used to passively divide the same downstream signal among each of the ONT end points.

Downstream broadcast
All data goes to all ONUs and the ONU address controls the downstream data.

Figure 5: EPON Downstream

Upstream, the Ethernet MAC has been modified by the IEEE to support time division multiple access (TDMA) scheduling. The upstream Ethernet bandwidth (before 8B/10B coding) is scheduled for use by each of the ONT end points using a TDMA algorithm controlled by the OLT. The full bandwidth is available to each endpoint for the duration of its scheduled time. Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) algorithms are implemented by vendors to dynamically change the allocation for each ONU based on the amount of traffic it has queued to send.

Upstream TDMA operation

ONUs send information to the OLT in a specific time window.

Figure 6: EPON Upstream

As shown in Figure 7, GPON is a synchronous transport network architecture. Its downstream MAC is derived from GFP-framed SONET, whereby it operates on a fixed time base of 125 secs and time division multiplexing (TDM) is used to divide the bandwidth to the 32 ONTs. Because it is synchronous in nature, idle characters are inserted whenever no asynchronous Ethernet traffic is available. Optical splitters passively split the same downstream signal to each of the 32 ONU end points. Upstream, TDMA scheduling is used and incoming Ethernet traffic is again encapsulated and mapped into a 1.2 Gbps synchronous framed signal in a similar manner to the downstream.

Voice Data Video

ONU

Downstream (two-fiber systems)................ 1310 nm + 50 nm Downstream (single-fiber systems)............. 1490 nm + 50 nm Upstream................................................ 1310 nm + 50 nm

Maximum bit rate 2488 Gbit/s both downstream and upstream

ONU
PABX 1:32 (64) Optical Splitter

TDM

Access Node NB OLT CC BB

GbE STMn/OCn E1/T1

TDMA

Data

ONU
0-20 km physical reach (60 km logical reach supported by protocol)

Figure 7: GPON Upstream & Downstream

PABX......... Private Automatic Branch Exchange ONU........ Optical Network Unit TDM......... Time Division Multiplex TDMA....... Time Division Multiple Access OLT.......... Optical Line Termination CC........... Cross-Connect NB........... Narrow Band BB............ Broadband E1............ 2048 Mbit/s T1............ 1554 Mbit/s GbE......... Gigabit Ethernet STMn........ Synchronous Transport Module n OCn......... Optical Carrier n

Service hierarchy
Since PON is P2MP in nature, the OLT must be able to uniquely identify and communicate with each ONT. EPON uses a Logical Link ID (LLID) to uniquely address an ONT. In addition, VLAN_IDs are used for further addressing in order to deliver VLAN-based services. In the downstream direction, the OLT attaches the LLID to the preamble of the frame to identify the destination ONT. In GPON, one or more Traffic Containers (T-CONT) are created between the OLT and an ONT. This T-CONT allows for the emulation of a point-to-point virtual connection between the OLT and ONT and the subsequent TDM multiplexing of the downstream bandwidth between T-CONTs. Within each T-CONT there can exist multiple Port IDs to identify individual ONT ports within a single ONT.

Identified via ONU_ID

Identified via Alloc_ID Identified via VPI Identified via LLID

Identified via VCI

VC VC VC ONU

VP T-CONT ONU VP VP VP VP

VLAN LLID VLAN VLAN

T-CONT

VC VC

PON

PORT ONU T-CONT PORT PORT ONU

LLID LLID LLID

Identified via Port_ID

Figure 8: Service Hierarchy

Bandwidth allocation
The use of TDMA in the upstream direction requires the OLT to schedule each ONTs transmission to avoid collisions. Fundamentally, each ONT receives a grant telling it when to begin and end transmission. In GPON, grants are scheduled per T-CONT; in EPON, per LLID. In the case of GPON, grants are carried in the downstream frame header. A map field within the header specifies the specific T-CONT, start and end {Alloc-ID+Start+End} for each granted upstream window (timeslot). In EPON, grant messages are sent per LLID, as separate MAC-Control client frames (GATEs), between regular Ethernet frames. Each grant specifies the {LLID+Start+Length}.

Frame header (PBCd) US BW Map Alloc-ID 1 Start 100 End 300 Alloc-ID 2

Downstream Payload

Start 400

End 500

Alloc-ID 3

Start 520

End 600

T-CONT 1 (ONU 1)

T-CONT 2 (ONU 2)

T-CONT 3 (ONU 3)

Figure 9: GPON Media Access Control

Downstream

LLID 1

Start 100

Length 200

LLID 2

Start 400

Length 100

LLID 3

Start 520

Length 80

Upstream
LLID1 (ONU 1) LLID 2 (ONU 2) LLID 3 (ONU 3)

Figure 10: EPON Media Access Control

Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA)

Optionally, both GPON and EPON support DBA. This is used for real-time variation of timeslot allocation to ONTs, which increases throughput as a function of upstream demand.
GPON DBA
Granting Unit Control Unit Identification of control unit Reporting mechanism Negotiate Procedure GTC overhead T-CONT Alloc-ID Embedded OAM GPON OMCI

GPON DBA
MPCP GATE frame LLID LLID Separate REPORT Frame N/A

Figure 11: DBA Elements in GPON and EPON

Control messages
In GPON there are three different types of control messages: OMCI, OAM, and PLOAM. Their roles are shown in the table below.
Control channel
OMCI Embedded OAM PLOAM

Format
Ethernet or ATM Header overhead ATM

Used for
Provisioning of ONT service defining layers above the GTC (e.g., via EMS) BW granting, encryption key switching, and DBA Auto discovery and all other PMD and GTC management info. PLOAM messages are directed to ONTs or FF for broadcasts

Figure 11: Control Messages

In contrast, EPON utilizes IEEE 802.3ah OAM messages for provisioning, fault isolation and performance monitoring in conjunction with SNMP sets and gets through IETF MIBs. Additional control messages are MPCP GATEs/REPORTs for BW granting.

ONT discovery & activation

Both EPON and GPON support automatic ONT discovery and activation mechanisms. GPON uses the Serial Number (SN) for ONT authentication. There are two methods for activating ONTs. Method A -- The SN of the ONT is registered in advance at the OLT by the operator Method B -- The SN of the ONT is not registered at the OLT by the operator/EMS. Method B requires an automatic detection mechanism of the SN. If a new ONT is detected, an ONT-ID is assigned and the ONT is activated. Traditionally, EPON does not authenticate via the SN, but, instead, uses the ONT MAC Address in order to assign an LLID. However, some vendor-specific EPON implementations optionally utilize the ONTs SN.

Encryption
Both EPON and GPON support AES-128bit encryption. For GPON, key management messages are exchanged via PLOAM cells. Upon request by the OLT, the ONT sends a new key three times. Once received, the OLT toggles a bit in the GTC header to initiate a key switch. For EPON, key management messages are either via a management VLAN or via IEEE 802.3ah OAM messagesm depending on vendor implementation.

Bandwidth and efficiency

Probably the most heralded claim of GPON vendors is that it is 2.448 Gbps in the downstream direction and 1.24416 Gbps in the upstream direction, whereas EPON is symmetrically 1.25 Gbps (1.0 Gbps prior to 8B/10B coding). Efficiency has to be considered in both directions of a PON. Each PON protocol introduces its own overhead in either direction. Overall, PON efficiency is a function of protocol encapsulation and scheduling efficiencies. In the downstream direction, protocol overhead should be negligible. In the upstream direction, the total scheduling overhead within EPON is between 2.92 percent

and 9.67 percent. In other words, EPON efficiency is from 90.33 percent to 97.08 percent compared to a GbE point-to-point link. In the downstream direction, EPON efficiency reaches from 97.13 percent to 98.92 percent of the efficiency of a point-to-point 1GbE link, while GPON in GEM mode can achieve ~ 95 percent efficiency of its usable bandwidth. It should be noted that, optionally, EPON can be operated in what is typically termed turbo mode. With turbo mode, the downstream EPON data rate is doubled to 2.5Gbps, thus enabling bandwidth throughput comparable to GPON.

Ethernet service support

Ethernet features Since EPON is an IEEE Ethernet standard and utilizes Ethernet switches within its silicon, it can natively support all of the 802.1 and 802.3 features of Ethernet, including VLAN tags, prioritization, OAM, etc. All Ethernet services can be natively delivered in a manner identical to what is done with switched Ethernet today. Since GPON only defines the transport of Ethernet frames, there is no native Ethernet functionality. Ethernet switches must be placed either in front of or within GPON OLTs and ONTs to provide any additional Ethernet capabilities. Capabilities are, thus, unique to each manufacturers implementation.

Bridging
Since the cross-connect at the GPON OLT is not an Ethernet switch, GPON cannot support standard Ethernet bridging. Thus, in order to support standard bridging, there would be the need for an Ethernet switch upstream of the OLT cross-connect, either externally or in an aggregation point in the same chassis.

Transparent LAN Services (TLS)

TLS is achieved via VLAN tunneling on Ethernet switches. Without these in the GPON OLT chassis, one would need to use external Ethernet switches in order to achieve the same result. The GEM cross-connect cannot inspect VLANs in order to make the appropriate forwarding decisions.

Conclusion
The developers of both EPON and GPON recognized the need to evolve PON to being a Gigabit-capable solution for transporting Ethernet and IP traffic. Their implementations, while utilizing a common optical infrastructure, are very different in execution. EPON extended native Ethernet to support the PON P2MP architecture, while GPON used techniques similar to GFP-framed SONET/SDH to create an efficient Ethernet transport mechanism.

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2013 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks identified by or are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc. This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or supplement any specifications or warranties relating to CommScope products or services. WP-107286-EN (10/13)

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