An Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) uses an aggregation device called an optical line terminal (OLT). An OLT can support a MINIMUM of______subscribers per port using a passive optical splitter

Question

Options

• A8
• B16
• C32
• D64

• A
  15% (4)
• B
  77% (20)
• C
  4% (1)
• D
  4% (1)

Explanation

Option B (16) is correct because EPON standards specify that an OLT port supports a minimum splitting ratio of 1:16, meaning at least 16 subscribers can share a single OLT port through a passive optical splitter. Option A (8) is wrong because a 1:8 split ratio falls below the minimum defined for EPON deployments and would be an inefficient underuse of OLT capacity. Options C (32) and D (64) are wrong because while these higher split ratios are technically supported in EPON - with 1:64 being the maximum - they represent larger-scale configurations, not the minimum. The question specifically asks for the minimum, which anchors to the 1:16 baseline.

Memory tip: Think of 16 as the "floor" of EPON splitting - you can always split more (up to 64), but you cannot go below 16 and still meet EPON's minimum standard. Associate "minimum EPON" with the number 16.

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