Powering High-Speed Fiber MDU Deployments with Hardened OLTs and XGS-PON

High-speed internet is essential to keeping the world connected, and service providers are faced with the challenge of deploying fiber networks to all buildings – from densely populated urban areas to the rural countryside.

Multi-dwelling unit (MDU) buildings, ranging from apartment complexes and condos to mixed-use developments, have characteristics that make them ideal targets for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) rollouts because they are filled with bandwidth-hungry consumers all concentrated in one place.

MDU tenants view high-speed internet service as essential, with many willing to pay a premium for properties that offer fiber connectivity directly to their units. Because of this, landlords and building owners promote fiber-to-the-unit as a premium amenity, leveraging it to demand premium pricing for their buildings.

For fiber network operators, capitalizing on the MDU opportunity requires the right solutions for outside plant deployment and technology that delivers the required upstream and downstream speeds within a complicated network architecture.

In this blog, we’re outlining how XGS-PON is optimized for MDU deployment, and how solutions like hardened optical line terminals (OLTs) and the Precision OpenPath platform are key for ensuring a future-proofed network.

What Makes XGS-PON Ideal for MDU Fiber Deployments?

XGS-PON technology delivers the bandwidth capacity and scalability needed to serve today’s demanding applications while preparing for tomorrow’s requirements.

In the past, most internet traffic was download-heavy, focusing mostly on streaming and web browsing. But the world has changed, and subscribers are requiring higher upstream bandwidth for video conferencing, cloud storage backups, content creation, smart home devices, and more.

Unlike platforms that prioritize download speeds – like legacy GPON technology, which provides only 1.2 gigabit upload speeds – XGS-PON (10 Gigabit symmetrical passive optical network) offers 10 Gbps downstream and upstream capacity shared across all optical network units. In MDUs where dozens – or even hundreds – of people may be streaming, uploading, video chatting or gaming simultaneously, that symmetrical capacity matters.

From a network design standpoint, XGS-PON’s enhanced splitting capabilities offer advantages to service providers deploying fiber within an MDU. One major advantage is XGS-PON supports higher split ratios of 128 or even 256 customers per port without degrading performance, meaning providers can easily add new subscribers without needing to upgrade the physical network, lowering the installation costs and simplifying fiber management throughout the building.

How Do Hardened OLTs Improve MDU Fiber Deployment?

In a traditional centralized model, OLTs are deployed in data centers, which are typically located miles away from the MDU, or end-user. From the data center, fiber runs out to individual neighborhoods and finally to the customer premises. However, a centralized model can be inefficient when trying to serve dense MDUs.  Placing the OLTs closer to the MDU helps reduce bottlenecks and brings more capacity to more people.

In XGS-PON deployments, bringing the OLT closer to the end-user reduces fiber distance and minimizes optical loss. Installing hardened OLTs directly outside an MDU building also allows for a more flexible deployment if an already-existing building doesn’t have the space to accommodate a telecom room inside.

One concern with deploying equipment outdoors is often about environmental factors. Unlike rack-mounted units that require dedicated equipment rooms, the Precision hardened OLTs can be deployed wherever space and power are available. In XGS-PON networks, hardened OLTs are used in outdoor cabinets, making our OLTs perfect for an outdoor application because they don’t require cooling systems or climate control, and are built to operate in non-conditioned environments.

What’s the Best Way to Simplify MDU Fiber Installations?

Improving data rate for end-users doesn’t need to be a complicated project. With a single fiber drop to an MDU, service providers can work toward prioritizing broadband equity through XGS-PON applications. But an effective MDU fiber deployment requires utilizing suppliers who have the products to manage the capacity needs of today and tomorrow, and technology that is reliable every step of the way.

Belden’s Precision OpenPath platform encompasses all critical PON components for an XGS-PON deployment, such as OLTs, optics, splitters, optical network units and controller software. OpenPath gives broadband operators a future-ready, flexible platform to deploy and manage high-speed fiber networks efficiently, making it particularly beneficial for connecting MDUs.