In a blog posted to Siemon's Standards Informant website, the company's Valerie Maguire reports that the IEEE 802.3ca “IEEE Standard for Ethernet Amendment: Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for 25 Gb/s and 50 Gb/s Passive Optical Networks” standard was approved by the IEEE-SA Standards Board on June 4, 2020.
As developed by the IEEE P802.3ca 50G‑EPON Task Force, the standard amendment defines two Physical Layer (PHY) specifications that support 25 Gb/s and 50 Gb/s EPON operation over a single strand of single-mode optical fiber.
As stated by Siemon's Maguire:
The two new EPON architectures are:
25G-EPON: An EPON architecture supporting a maximum sustained throughput of 25 Gb/s in either downstream or both downstream and upstream directions. This term collectively refers to 25/10G‑EPON and 25/25G‑EPON architectures.
50G-EPON: An EPON architecture supporting a maximum sustained throughput of 50 Gb/s in either downstream or both downstream and upstream directions. This term collectively refers to 50/10G‑EPON, 50/25G‑EPON, and 50/50G‑EPON architectures.
Maguire's blog notes, "Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) is a universal outside plant architecture that provides network access in residential, business, and Wi‑Fi/cellular backhaul applications. Not only is 10G‑EPON capacity insufficient in dense environments such as multi-dwelling units, but EPON continues to evolve to meet changing requirements, satisfy increasing access demands, and support new markets and applications."