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This article describes broadband optical access network evolution including high speed interfaces for fixed and mobile services. The impact of network access evolution on network architecture and transmission equipment localization on the metropolitan network is also mentioned. Some technical challenges are also discussed, namely concerning the optical extended budget, as well as the impact of access evolution on the metropolitan network. The access bit rate evolution has also an impact on the home network by the necessity of offering connectivity to customers at 1 Gbit/s, for example, over plastic optical fibre.

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We present a 1:2 variable optical splitter ͑VOS͒ with a selflatching property. This new generation of optical coupler presents two coupling ratio states ͑50%-50% and 100%-0%͒ and is based on magneto-optical technology. Fabricated VOS has an intrinsic loss of about 1 dB with a polarization-dependent loss ͑PDL͒ less than 0.1 dB. The flatness of the optical characteristics has also been measured in the C + L band at various temperatures. The active optical component needs an electrical pulse ͑with =1 ms͒ of around 2 V and 60 mA to be activated. Various passive optical network ͑PON͒ architectures using active 1:2 VOSs with self latching are investigated here. These components are cascaded to make a splitter with a tunable number of branches. The use of this splitter allows the achievement of adaptive, flexible, and scalable optical network architectures. The devices can be implemented in the central office ͑CO͒ or in the middle of the network. Last, we propose a remote powering and/or monitoring technology using a fiber-optic link in order to activate the dynamic optical power splitter. The key element of this technology is a pigtailed power converter module. The powering system avoids use of a local power supply via a power line and/or battery, maintains the passive and reliable properties of the network, and significantly limits its cost.