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

10

Bridging

10

Transparent LAN Services (TLS)

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:

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

FASN starts first formal PON

activity. 155MBps APON ITU
G.983 series

1995

1996

1997

Figure 1: PON Standardization

1998

1999

2000

ITU approves GPON

2001
EFM starts work on
802.3ah incl EPON

2002

2003

EPON ratified by IEEE

2004

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

Layer 5

Various
services

T1/E1
TDM

EPON layering
POTS

Data

Video

Layer 5

Layer 4

TCP+UDP etc

Layer 4

Layer 3

IP

Layer 3

T1/E1
TDM

POTS

Data

Video

TCP+UDP etc
IP

Ethernet

Layer 2

ATM cell

GEM frame

Layer 2

GTC TC frame

Ethernet frame

GTC sub-layer

Layer 1

MAC layer

Layer 1

PON-PHY

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

PURE ATM cells selection

PCBd

Payload

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

Service adaption

Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet

GEM
XC

GEM
XC

Ethernet

GEM
GTC Frame
Ethernet

OLT

ONT

GPON
Service adaption
Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet

Ethernet
Switch

Ethernet
Switch

Ethernet
Ethernet

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

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

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

ONU

Maximum bit rate 2488 Gbit/s both downstream and upstream

Video

Access Node

TDM

ONU
PABX

NB
1:32 (64) Optical Splitter

OLT

CC
BB

TDMA

Data

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

Figure 7: GPON Upstream & Downstream

E1/T1

GbE
STMn/OCn

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

T-CONT

Identified
via LLID

Identified
via VCI

VP

VC

VP

VC

VP

VC

VP

VC

VP

VC

VLAN
ONU

LLID

VLAN
VLAN

ONU

T-CONT

PON

PORT
ONU T-CONT

PORT
PORT

LLID
ONU

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}.

Downstream

Frame header (PBCd)

Payload

US BW Map
Alloc-ID

Start

End

Alloc-ID

Start

End

Alloc-ID

Start

End

100

300

400

500

520

600

T-CONT 1
(ONU 1)

T-CONT 2
(ONU 2)

T-CONT 3
(ONU 3)

Figure 9: GPON Media Access Control

Downstream

LLID

Start

Length

LLID

Start

Length

LLID

Start

Length

100

200

400

100

520

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

GPON DBA

Granting Unit

GTC overhead

MPCP GATE frame

Control Unit

T-CONT

LLID

Identification of control unit

Alloc-ID

LLID

Reporting mechanism

Embedded OAM

Separate REPORT
Frame

Negotiate Procedure

GPON OMCI

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

Format

Used for

OMCI

Ethernet or ATM

Provisioning of ONT service defining layers

above the GTC (e.g., via EMS)

Embedded OAM

Header overhead

BW granting, encryption key switching, and

DBA

PLOAM

ATM

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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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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