Short Courses

This short course offers a comprehensive introduction to the architectures of passive optical networks (PONs), examining their various types, key features, and global market deployments. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the enabling technologies that drive PON systems, including their advantages and limitations. Several generations of commercial PON systems—including EPON, GPON, XG(S)-PON, 10GE-PON, NG-PON2, and 50G-PON—will be reviewed and systematically compared. The short course explores diverse PON applications across telecom, wireless xhaul, 5G, and the rapidly growing IoT, fiber-to-the-room (FTTR), fiber-to-the-grid (FTTGrid), and Industry 4.0 sectors. Participants will learn practical guidelines for PON deployment, with insights on selecting the most suitable technologies and systems to meet specific needs. To inspire innovation, the course delves into promising future technologies and research directions for next-generation PON development. This course is tailored to a wide audience. Graduate students will discover how their academic background can align with the dynamic field of broadband access. Network engineers and product designers will deepen their understanding of PON technologies and their real-world applications. Researchers will gain valuable perspectives on challenges and potential solutions, paving the way for impactful advancements. By the end of the short course, participants will have a holistic perspective on PON technologies, their current role in broadband access, and their potential to shape future connectivity.

This course should enable participants to:

• Understand PON Architectures and Benefits: Gain foundational knowledge of PONs, including their structures and advantages
• Explore Enabling Technologies: Learn about the key technologies that power PONs, their benefits, and their limitations
• Compare PON Types: Analyze various types of PONs by exploring their unique features, motivations for development, and global market deployments
• Examine PON Applications: Discover the role of PONs in telecom, wireless front/mid/back-haul, 5G networks, and emerging markets like IoT, FTTR, FTTGrid, and Industry 4.0
• Gain Insight into Network Deployment: Understand the practical aspects of deploying PON networks and selecting suitable systems and technologies
• Explore Future Evolution: Delve into the future of PON technology, examining promising innovations and research directions for next-generation solutions

                This advanced beginner course is intended for a diverse audience including researchers, engineers, and graduate students. Some basic knowledge of optical networks will help in better understanding the course but is not a prerequisite.

Dr. Yuanqiu Luo has over 20 years of experience in the research and development of optical access networks. She is an Editor and key technical contributor of PON standards such as ITU-T Recommendations G.987.3, G.989.2, G.9802, G.9807.1, and G.9804.2. She has also contributed significantly to IEEE standards, serving as a Clause Editor of IEEE 802.1AS on PON time synchronization and Chief Editor of IEEE 802.3cp on 10G/25G/50G bidirectional optical access. Currently, Dr. Luo chairs the IEEE 802.3dk Task Force, driving advancements in 100G bidirectional optical access. Dr. Luo's major projects include the first XG-PON trial with Verizon, PON applications for wireless xhaul, and the first NG-PON2 prototype system. She is a Director of Optical Access Standards at Futurewei Technologies, USA.

Dr. Luo earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA. She has authored over 60 publications and holds more than 50 U.S. patents. An IEEE Senior Member, Dr. Luo actively contributes to the professional community. She is a member of the IEEE ComSoc Educational Services Board, a Technical Editor for both IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine and the IEEE Journal of Internet of Things, and serves as Chair of the IEEE Princeton Central Jersey Section Photonics Society Chapter. She was previously an IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer. Dr. Luo received the 2021 IEEE ComSoc N²Women Stars in Computer Networking and Communications award and the IEEE Standards Awards in both 2011 and 2021.