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02.01.2011

Passive Optical LAN (POL)

What is Passive Optical LAN (POL) and where did it come from? POL is an all fiber optic Local Area Network (LAN) based on the proven technology telephone and cable carriers have used over the past several years to bring voice, data and video in a single fiber optic strand directly to your residence. This technology is not brand new, but is it relatively new to the commercial business environment. It has now been enhanced to provide the same trio of services (voice/data/video) in businesses and college campuses.

The POL technology uses a single fiber optic strand to provide high speed voice, data, and video services. It is passive because it does this without the use of electronics to repeat or split the services. The result is a simplified network infrastructure that has seemingly endless capacity.

POL uses single-mode fiber optic cable, the same type of fiber optic cable used for decades by the utility companies to transfer data from city-to-city and across the country. 

Multimode fiber, which is on its fourth generation, has been continually displaced do to bandwidth limitations, and doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of what single-mode fiber can do.

This technology is a great benefit to customers. It will help customers cut operating costs and make better use of their expensive network electronics. In particular, I see great value in schools and universities as they frequently require the triple play of services (voice, data, and video) in the classroom and across campus.


Benefits POL offers:

  • Smaller Telecommunication Rooms
  • Fewer Communication Rooms
  • Reduced Power Usage
  • Reduced Equipment Cooling Costs
  • Smaller Raceway/Pathway Sizing


Concern with POL: