EPON (Ethernet Passive Optical Network) and GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) are variations of Passive Optical Network (PON) technology. A typical PON system includes an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) located at the service provider's Central Office (CO) and numerous Optical Network Units (ONUs) positioned near end-users. Optical splitters are employed to enable a single optical fiber to serve multiple premises.
While EPON and GPON share general concepts and architectures such as PON operation, Optical Distribution Network (ODN) framework, wavelength plan, and application scenarios, their operational mechanisms, data protocols, as well as the features and services they support, differ significantly.
