Abstract

Dynamic development of information and communication technologies observed during past decade, has resulted in significant changes of telecommunication systems, which are becoming more versatile and enable delivering information to rapidly increasing number of users. As a consequence, telecommunication networks evolve into optically transparent systems, with optical fibers carrying information directly to the user premises. Although standard single mode silica fibers are definitely dominant in the core network, they impose a number of limitations when deployed in specific conditions of intra-building networks. In such environment the mechanical resistance, bending losses, easiness (and cost) of installation and reconfiguration and, finally, the user-safety aspects become key problems. Therefore the selection of optimal transmission medium for access networks remains still an open question. In particular, the plastic optical fibers (POFs), which offer the great advantage of mechanical flexibility together with low cost of manufacturing and simplicity of installation, are continuously considered as a promising alternative to silica fibers in the context of access networks, and specifically intra-building systems.

© 2013 IEEE