Which passive optical network (PON) architecture aims to connect businesses, schools, and libraries to the internet in a cost-effective manner?

The Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) architecture is designed with particular emphasis on cost-effectiveness, making it well-suited for connecting institutions such as businesses, schools, and libraries to the internet. EPON utilizes Ethernet as the standard method for data transmission. This method is already widely adopted, which reduces the cost of deployment and maintenance since organizations often have existing Ethernet infrastructure.

The efficient bandwidth utilization of EPON allows for scalable solutions to meet varying needs of the users in educational and business environments. Furthermore, EPON supports high-speed internet access and can serve multiple customers simultaneously using a single fiber optic network, optimizing costs while providing robust performance.

In contrast, other PON architectures such as GPON and BPON primarily focus on delivering high bandwidth for residential consumers and might not offer the same cost efficiencies or the flexibility that EPON provides for business-grade applications. Time Division Multiplexing PONs, while technically capable of supporting various services, may not align specifically with the cost-effectiveness aim compared to EPON when it comes to connecting larger end-user institutions. This combination of cost-effectiveness and scalability makes EPON a prominent choice for connecting educational and commercial establishments efficiently.