Optimization of FTTH Network Attenuation Using EPON Based on Splitter Ratio Configuration in the NEM Media RT/RW Net

Abstract

Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) has become a widely adopted broadband access technology due to its high transmission capacity and reliability. However, active fiber-optic distribution networks commonly used in small-scale RT/RW Net deployments experience considerable optical attenuation, increased maintenance complexity, and higher operational costs. This study proposes an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON)-based FTTH architecture employing a cascaded splitter ratio configuration of 5:95 and 8:92 to optimize optical attenuation while maintaining bandwidth and Quality of Service (QoS). The proposed network was implemented on the operational RT/RW Net infrastructure of NEM Media, Indonesia, serving ten subscribers. Optical attenuation was evaluated using an Optical Power Meter (OPM) and Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), while bandwidth and QoS performance were assessed using Speedtest and Wireshark. Experimental results show that the average received optical power improved from −26.85 dBm in the existing network to −14.01 dBm, corresponding to an average improvement of 12.83 dB (47.8%). The implemented network maintained bandwidth close to the configured 7 Mbps service profile for all subscribers and achieved 0% packet loss, demonstrating reliable communication performance. The results confirm that the proposed EPON architecture effectively reduces optical attenuation, simplifies network infrastructure by eliminating intermediate active devices, and provides stable broadband service for small-scale RT/RW Net deployments.