A PLC splitter, also known as a planar waveguide splitter, splits one or two light beams into multiple uniform light beams, or combines multiple light beams into one or two light beams. It is a passive optical device with multiple input/output terminals, especially applicable to PON (EPON, GPON, BPON, FTTX, etc.) to connect MDF (main distribution board), terminal equipment and branch optical signals. Fiber PLC Splitters provide a low-cost solution for light distribution with high stability and reliability. PLC splitters can provide a split ratio of 1 x 64. This is usually the best split you can achieve.

PLC Fiber Optic Splitter Manufacturing Technology

PLC splitters are based on semiconductor technology. As the name suggests, PLC splitters are manufactured using planar waveguide technology. The PLC splitter design is composed of a PLC optical chip and multiple optical disk arrays according to the output ratio. Optical arrays are assembled at both ends of the PLC splitter.

 How does a PLC splitter work?

PLC splitters are widely installed between PON optical network modules (OLTs) and network terminals/optical modules (ONUs/ONTs) serving the OLT. The fiber optic link from the central office (CO) OLT is connected to the input of the splitter and split by the number of fibers exiting the splitter.

The number of divisions is determined by the number of outputs of the PLC module. PLC splitters can be used in distributed or centralized PON architectures. Centralized PON architectures typically use a 1 x 32 PLC splitter at the central office. In a distributed PON architecture, a 1 x 4 PLC splitter is first connected directly to the OLT port at the central office, then each of the four fibers is routed to a terminal box and an outer box that accommodates 1/1 x 8x. 4PLC splitter.