Expressed as a ratio or percentage, the splitter ratio indicates the division of optical power among the output ports. For instance, a 1:8 splitter ratio signifies an equal distribution of incoming optical power among eight output ports, with each port receiving 1/8th of the total. By dividing a single optical signal from a central Optical Line Terminal (OLT) into multiple outputs for Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) at users' homes, splitters eliminate the need for dedicated fibers to each residence—slashing infrastructure costs while scaling network reach. Fiber optic splitters are vital components within. The two main types are PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) splitters and FBT (Fused Biconical Taper) splitters. PLC splitters: higher precision, good for large ratios (e., 1×32, 1×64 and beyond), uniform output, stable across temperature variations. Traditional GPON networks often employ 1:32 or 1:64 splits.
[PDF Version]