How Many Homes Can One OLT Port Serve?
This is one of the most common questions from ISPs planning a fiber optic network deployment. The short answer depends on the GPON or EPON technology used, the split ratio, and each subscriber's bandwidth requirements. In a typical FTTH deployment, one OLT port can serve between 32 and 128 homes.
What is the Standard Split Ratio?
GPON technology supports split ratios of 1:32, 1:64, and even 1:128. The most common deployment uses 1:32 or 1:64. EPON typically uses 1:32. A 1:64 split ratio means 64 ONUs share a single 2.5Gbps GPON port, with each ONU getting up to 1.25Gbps in burst mode.
Real-World Capacity Examples
For a 500-home deployment with 1:64 split ratio, you need 8 OLT ports (500/64). Each 4-port OLT line card handles 256 homes. For high-bandwidth users (100Mbps+ per subscriber), use 1:32 split ratio which requires 16 ports for 500 homes.
How to Calculate Your Needs
Formula: Number of OLT ports = Total subscribers / Split ratio.Example: 1000 subscribers using 1:64 split = 16 OLT ports (round up).Consider future growth: plan for 20% headroom.
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