Expanding Energy-Efficient Fiber Networks

A project launched by Broadband Forum is set to revolutionize the energy efficiency of electronics in broadband fibre networks. The initiative, known as the ‘Energy Power Saving Requirements, Test Plan, and Data Model’ project, is a collaborative effort involving industry giants such as BT Group, Orange, Calix, Futurewei, Huawei, and Nokia. The primary goal of this project is to significantly reduce the power consumption of equipment across broadband fibre networks, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The project, spearheaded by the Broadband Forum’s Fibre Access Network (FAN) Work Area, will integrate new energy-saving requirements into a range of Broadband Forum’s standards and specifications. This development is a significant step forward in the industry, building upon the ITU-T Supplement 45, G series recommendations that focus on power-saving in Passive Optical Networks (PON) equipment.

Anticipated to be released in the summer of 2025, the specifications outlined in the project aim to incentivize the creation of technologies that align with the power-saving requirements, test plan, and data model. One of the key areas of focus is enhancing the power-saving capabilities of Optical Network Units (ONUs) and Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) within fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks.

Despite the inherent energy efficiency of FTTH networks compared to traditional copper networks, ONUs still consume a considerable amount of power, both during active operation and idle states, leading to potential power leakages. The project will introduce specifications for ONU power shedding, which involves reducing power for non-essential functions while maintaining an operational optical link, as well as implementing watchful sleep modes to ensure only essential hardware remains active.

According to Hugues Le Bras, Network Engineer in Fixed Access Networks at Orange and Editor of the project, “Energy efficiency in fixed broadband equipment is crucial for reducing power costs and CO2 emissions for operators and customers alike. As the demand for high-speed connectivity continues to grow, it is imperative that FTTH networks operate sustainably to empower end-users while also benefiting the environment.”

Le Bras emphasized the importance of commitment from service providers to lower energy consumption, compliance from equipment vendors with the set targets, and testing labs to verify the interoperability and functionality of protocol-specific power-saving methodologies. Marta Seda, the Fibre Access Network (FAN) Work Area Director at the Broadband Forum and representative of Calix, highlighted the industry's ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency and stressed the significance of integrating power-saving recommendations into existing specifications to help service providers reduce their carbon footprints.