Splitters only lower the optical power—not the bandwidth. Every endpoint still gets the full data stream; the light is just a little dimmer. And here's where optical networks shine (literally): even with that tiny power drop, a single fiber can carry so much data that performance. Bandwidth is shared amongst customers in a PON, and the bandwidth received by a customer is not related to the power received at the optical network terminal (ONT) as long as the power is high enough so the ONT can operate. Splits are most commonly factors of 2, such as 1x2, 1x4, 1x8, 1x16, 1x32. In the backbone of modern Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks, optical splitters serve as the unsung heroes that enable cost-efficient connectivity for millions of subscribers. By dividing a single optical signal from a central Optical Line Terminal (OLT) into multiple outputs for Optical Network. With higher split ratios, the PON network has both advantages and disadvantages.
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