What is a Passive Optical Network (PON), and how does it work? (Updated 2026)
A Passive Optical Network (PON) is a fiber-optic access network that uses a point-to-multipoint topology, in which a single optical fiber from the provider serves many endpoints through unpowered (passive) optical splitters. It’s the technology behind most modern fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband. The word “passive” is the key idea: once the light signal leaves the provider’s...
