Fiber Optic Splitter

A: PLC (Planar Lightwave Circuit) splitters use a waveguide chip manufactured with semiconductor lithography, offering uniform loss across all output ports, wide wavelength coverage (1260–1650 nm), and support for split ratios up to 1×64. FBT (Fused Biconical Taper) splitters fuse optical fibers under controlled heat to create a coupling junction, allowing customizable (unequal) splitting ratios but limited to lower channel counts and narrower wavelength windows. For FTTH and GPON deployments, PLC is typically preferred. For specialty sensing or CATV tap applications, FBT is often better suited.

A: The choice depends on your link budget and subscriber density. A 1×32 splitter allows one OLT port to serve 32 ONUs and is the most common configuration in tier-1 GPON deployments. For rural or lower-density areas, 1×8 or 1×16 splitters preserve more power margin. In dense urban FTTH networks with short fiber runs, 1×64 splitters may be viable if your optical power budget permits. We recommend verifying your link budget (OLT transmit power minus all losses vs. ONU sensitivity) before finalizing the split ratio.

A: Yes. Our PLC splitters in steel tube (micro-tube) packaging are rated for outdoor use and are designed to be spliced into underground or aerial fiber closures. They meet IP68 sealing requirements when properly housed in an outdoor fiber enclosure. ABS box splitters are suitable for outdoor street cabinets with IP-rated housings. For direct burial or aerial applications, we recommend combining the splitter with a compatible fiber optic enclosure or splice closure.

A: A fiber optic splitter divides optical signal power, not bandwidth. In a properly designed PON system, each subscriber receives the full downstream bandwidth allocation from the OLT regardless of the split ratio — because GPON and EPON use time-division multiplexing (TDM) to separate data streams. The key requirement is that received optical power at each ONU must remain above the receiver's sensitivity threshold. Splitters do not introduce latency, bandwidth throttling, or frequency-dependent attenuation beyond the specified insertion loss.

A: We support SC/APC, SC/UPC, LC/APC, LC/UPC, FC/APC, FC/UPC, and ST connectors across our PLC and FBT splitter range. For FTTH and GPON networks, SC/APC (green, 8° angled polish) is the most widely used due to its superior return loss performance (≥65 dB). LC/APC connectors are preferred in high-density data center environments where space is limited. Custom connector configurations can be requested for OEM orders.

A: Standard stock PLC and FBT splitters have a minimum order of 50 units, with free samples available for evaluation. Standard production orders ship within 10 business days. Custom OEM orders (private label, non-standard ratios, specialty packaging) typically require 3–4 weeks. For large-scale telecom project orders (10,000+ units), we offer dedicated production scheduling, volume pricing, and just-in-time delivery coordination. Contact our sales team for project-specific terms.

A: Yes, cascading splitters (two-stage splitting) is a standard practice in large FTTH networks. For example, a 1×4 primary splitter at the central office can feed four 1×8 secondary splitters at street cabinets, achieving an effective 1×32 split. The total insertion loss is the sum of both stages plus all connector and fiber losses. Careful link budget planning is essential to ensure sufficient optical power at each end-user ONU. Our engineering team can assist with multi-stage split budget calculations.