GPON-based transmission hierarchy for metro ring networks

Nowadays, almost all of metro network operators face the challenge that how to give a uniform support to multiple client networks, and meanwhile increase traffic's transmission efficiency. In an attempt to address this problem, here we first propose a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) based transmission hierarchy (GTH) for metro networks, by modifying the frame structures and application scenarios of traditional GPON technology. Then we study the GTH technology by analyzing the network operating principles and dynamic bandwidth allocation mechanisms. In order to evaluate GTH's performance, we build a simulation testbed for metro ring networks, and compare GTH with multi-service transport platform (MSTP) and technologies of packet transport network (PTN). Simulation results show that for transmission efficiency, GTH outperforms MSTP and is comparable to PTN. Furthermore, each time point of network expansion in GTH networks is further than it is in MSTP and PTN networks.