First demonstration of OFDM ECDMA for low cost optical access networks

We demonstrate for the first time to the best of our knowledge an analogue orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based electrical code division multiplexing access (ECDMA) passive optical network (PON) for next generation access applications. Advantages of the system include low cost, high capacity, and enhanced spectral efficiency. A proof-of-principle 16 QAM OFDM ECDMA PON downlink experiment is used to show the transmission of an aggregate data rate of 24.8  Gb/s within an eight-user system. Transmission is achieved over 25 km of single-mode telecommunications fiber (SMF) with negligible dispersion and crosstalk penalties.