Technical Approach

The PIEMAN project is structured in four technical workpackages (WPs) corresponding to different key technical challenges and solutions. An additional workpackage is dedicated to project management.

• WP1 “Architecture and overall system design” will set, review and maintain the overall technical direction of the project. It will also deal with dissemination of results via standardization, publication and conferences.
• WP2 “10 Gbit/s PON optoelectronics” focuses on the major challenge of achieving upstream burst mode operation of a PON at 10 Gbit/s with amplified reach of 100km.
• WP3. “Tunable ONU” will investigate a wavelength tunable 10 Gbit/s transmitter capable of achieving access cost targets when manufactured in volume.
• WP4 “Reflective ONU” will design, develop and characterise a reflective ONU suitable for the PIEMAN architecture.

WP1 is the central workpackage. It will feed requirements into the other WPs and will take account of feedback from other WPs as to what is technically feasible. To do this it includes a major network operator and two major system vendors, although to ensure thorough technical debate, all partners have some involvement in WP1.