Distributed fiber Raman amplification in long reach PON bidirectional access links

Distributed Raman fiber amplification is proposed and experimentally demonstrated to support long reach passive optical network (PON) links. An 80 km, bidirectional, single fiber link is demonstrated using both standard intensity optical modulators at 10 Gb/s and up to 7.5 Gb/s using novel reflective semiconductor optical amplifier electro-absorption modulator.