A Passive Optical Network (PON) is a telecommunications technology that uses fibre optic cables to deliver high-speed internet, voice, and video services. Unlike traditional copper-based systems, PON relies on light signals transmitted through optical fibres, which provide far greater bandwidth and reliability. The term passive refers to the fact that, between the service provider’s central office and the end user, no active electronic components are needed, only passive devices like splitters that divide the signal among multiple users.

A typical PON setup consists of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) at the provider’s end, Optical Network Units (ONUs) or Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) at the customer premises, and passive splitters in between. This architecture allows a single fibre to serve multiple users efficiently, reducing costs while supporting very high data speeds. PON technology underpins modern broadband solutions such as FTTH (Fibre to the Home), enabling scalable and future-proof connectivity.