Why choose
ACCL?

Fewer comms rooms

PON and POL simplify distribution across larger estates.

Splitters to endpoints

Fibre, splitter design and ONT commissioning in one scope.

Powers devices too

ONTs specified with PoE for APs, cameras and controllers.

King’s Cross rail tunnel

Fibre for structural monitoring in a rail tunnel.

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PON and POL installation in London

Passive optical network installation in London, from suitability assessment to as-left documentation.

A passive optical network (PON), often deployed inside a building as a passive optical LAN (POL), uses fibre and passive splitters to distribute connectivity across a site. For the right estate it can reduce comms room sprawl, simplify distribution and give a scalable backbone for Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control and smart building services. ACCL designs and installs PON and POL across London and the South East: fibre, splitter architecture, endpoints, commissioning and clear documentation.

Fibre optic installation

Backbones and building links, PON or point to point.

Explore fibre →

What is a PON?

A point-to-multipoint fibre network with no powered switching in between.

A passive optical network is a point-to-multipoint fibre architecture. An optical line terminal (OLT) connects to many endpoints through passive splitters, with no powered switching in between. In a building network, a passive optical LAN, the endpoints (ONT or ONU devices) present Ethernet ports, sometimes with PoE, for desks, access points, cameras and controllers.

In plain English: a traditional building network runs copper (Cat6 or Cat6A) to desks from powered switches in comms closets on each floor. POL pushes more of the distribution onto fibre, from a central location through splitters to endpoints near the user or device. The splitters need no power or configuration, which can cut the powered kit spread around the building, but it puts more weight on design, documentation and endpoint strategy.

  • Not a universal replacementPON and POL are most valuable on large, multi-floor or distribution-heavy estates, not every office.
  • Passive splitters, powered endpointsSplitters need no power; ONTs do, and are specified for the devices they serve.
  • A private optical networkYour own fibre distribution inside the estate, separate from the internet line into the building.

When is PON or POL a good fit?

Signs a passive optical LAN suits your estate.

PON or POL is usually considered when at least one of these is true.

  • Long distances or many risersDistributing powered switching across floors or buildings is costly or impractical.
  • A high-density wireless estateYou run or plan Wi-Fi 6, 6E or 7 and want a scalable fibre backbone behind it.
  • Comms room consolidationYou are refurbishing, consolidating comms rooms or cutting power and cooling in telecom spaces, including data centre fibre cabling.
  • Several buildings or a campusYou need a consistent, repeatable architecture across multiple buildings.
  • Converged building servicesYou want a future-ready base for CCTV, access control, IoT and smart building services.

If your main problem is Wi-Fi performance, start with a Wi-Fi survey and design. PON may be part of the answer, but it is not the first diagnostic step.

PON/POL vs traditional structured cabling

PON and POL compared with a traditional copper network.

Both can be right. The decision depends on the shape of the estate, how it is run and how it will grow.

Traditional structured cablingPON or POL
DistributionCopper to desks from powered switches on each floorFibre from a central point through passive splitters to endpoints
Comms closetsWorks well where you already have one per floorPotentially fewer distribution switches and closets to maintain
Distance and growthCopper runs are limited in lengthLong runs and bandwidth growth without re-cabling the backbone
Choose it whenYou need straightforward Ethernet everywhere and the current model worksYou want a fibre-first distribution architecture and long-distance scalability

Most estates still use Ethernet at the endpoint, so the design question is where fibre ends and copper begins. Our structured cabling team handles the copper side, and our guide to fibre optic vs copper cabling covers the basics.

What’s included in an ACCL PON/POL installation

PON and POL work we deliver.

We deliver PON and POL projects end to end, or work alongside your IT team and chosen platform or vendor.

Discovery and site survey

Coverage zones, device types, service separation and growth; risers, containment, patch locations and comms space constraints.

Architecture design

OLT location, splitter strategy, endpoint placement and the redundancy approach.

Fibre installation and testing

Fibre installed, terminated and certification tested as specified, with containment considered.

Splitters and rack works

Splitters installed securely and labelled; tidy patching, labelling and airflow in racks and cabinets.

Endpoints and commissioning

ONT or ONU deployment, service hand-off to Ethernet, Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control, and validation checks.

Not sure PON is right?

Book a suitability assessment. If PON or POL is not the right fit, we will recommend the simpler alternative.

Book a Free Site Survey

Our process: assess, design, install, test, document

How a PON or POL project runs.

We run PON and POL as an engineered infrastructure project, not a fit-and-hope install.

  1. Suitability assessment

    Confirm whether PON or POL suits your estate and goals. If not, we recommend the simpler, lower-risk option.

  2. Design and bill of materials

    Define the architecture, redundancy, fibre routes, containment and endpoint strategy.

  3. Fibre installation and termination

    Install fibre, splitters and containment safely and neatly, with the correct bend radius and labelling.

  4. Commissioning and validation

    Commission the optical distribution and validate service delivery to endpoints and connected systems.

  5. Handover documentation

    Provide the as-left pack: fibre schedule, splitter maps, endpoint inventory and operational notes.

Passive optical networks explained

Passive optical network installation, in depth.

At a glance: what a PON/POL project includes

A typical project covers:

  • A suitability assessment: estate layout, distance, density, service mix and growth.
  • Architecture and redundancy design: OLT location, splitter strategy and endpoint approach.
  • Fibre installation, termination and testing, including containment.
  • Splitter installation: secure, labelled and documented.
  • Endpoint (ONT or ONU) deployment and service hand-off for Ethernet, Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control.
  • Commissioning and validation testing.
  • As-left documentation: fibre schedule, splitter maps, endpoint inventory and recommendations.

Where PON/POL is commonly used

  • Hotels and hospitality venues: repeatable room endpoints, guest Wi-Fi backhaul and operational segregation.
  • Multi-tenant office buildings: structured distribution with simpler expansion paths.
  • Campuses and large estates: distance, scale, growth and long-term manageability.
  • Transport hubs and large venues: long runs, distributed zones and mixed services.
  • Healthcare and education: wide coverage with strong documentation needs.

Benefits, and what they mean in practice

The practical benefits usually fall into four groups:

  • Less distribution complexity: fewer intermediate comms closets, and simpler fibre pathways for expansion.
  • Lower power and cooling load in telecom spaces: passive splitters need no power, and fewer distribution switches can mean less heat and maintenance.
  • Distance and scalability: fibre supports long runs and bandwidth growth without re-cabling the backbone.
  • A clean base for converged estates: Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control and IoT on one fibre-first architecture. See what smart buildings are for the wider picture.

Key considerations before choosing PON/POL

A trustworthy PON plan is open about the trade-offs:

  • Endpoint strategy and power: ONTs and ONUs need power and must match your devices, including PoE where needed.
  • Redundancy: splitter topology can create shared points, so resilience must be designed in, not assumed.
  • Skills and documentation: POL is easy to run when it is well documented, and painful when it is not.
  • Integration: Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control each have different bandwidth, latency and security needs, so the design must reflect the service mix.
  • Migration: moving from traditional switching is lower risk with a phased migration and validation.

The as-left documentation pack

PON and POL succeed long term when the documentation is clear. Your handover pack can include:

  • Fibre routes and the termination schedule: what goes where.
  • Splitter topology maps: how each endpoint is served.
  • An endpoint inventory: locations, device IDs and port mappings.
  • The labelling convention used across racks, cabinets and endpoints.
  • Photos of key infrastructure and patching.
  • Recommendations for expansion, upgrades and ongoing maintenance.

Testing and certification for PON fibre

Fibre testing and as-left documentation can be included in the scope to match your project requirements and procurement expectations. Links are tested and certified by our fibre testing and certification engineers, and any later damage is handled by our fibre optic repair team.

Pricing factors for PON and POL

PON and POL projects are scoped individually. The main cost drivers are:

  • Building size, number of floors, and route and containment complexity.
  • Number of endpoints (ONTs or ONUs) and whether PoE is needed.
  • Fibre type and strand count, termination points and patching complexity.
  • Redundancy: single or diverse routes and topologies.
  • Out-of-hours working and access constraints such as security, permits and working windows.
  • Integration: Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control and IoT segmentation and policies.

Our fibre project experience

Our fibre team installed the ruggedised network for six tunnel boring machines on the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the fibre for millimetre-precision structural monitoring in King’s Cross Gasworks Tunnel. For an introduction to the technology, read our article on what a passive optical network is, and for the cable itself, what a fibre optic cable is. Where PON is part of a comms room consolidation, see our data centre solutions.

Before you book

Passive optical network FAQs

What is a passive optical network?

A passive optical network (PON) is a point-to-multipoint fibre architecture. An optical line terminal connects to many endpoints through passive splitters, with no powered switching in between. Inside a building it is called a passive optical LAN (POL), and the endpoints present Ethernet ports, sometimes with PoE, for desks, access points, cameras and controllers.

What is the difference between PON and POL?

PON is the general fibre architecture: one optical line terminal serving many endpoints through passive splitters. A passive optical LAN (POL) is PON used as the local network inside a building or campus, replacing much of the floor-by-floor switching. In practice the terms overlap, and we design and install both across London and the South East.

Is a passive optical network the same as fibre internet?

Not exactly. Fibre internet usually describes the wide area connection into your building from a provider. PON or POL is the internal distribution architecture inside your estate, used to deliver network services across floors and zones. You can have one without the other, and a PON can carry services from any internet connection you choose.

Can PON replace Cat6 or Cat6A cabling everywhere?

In some environments PON or POL can reduce the amount of copper distribution, but most estates still use Ethernet at the endpoint. The design choice is about where fibre ends and copper begins, and which endpoints you need. A suitability assessment shows whether PON, copper or a mix is the better answer for your building.

Is PON or POL suitable for offices?

It can be, particularly in multi-tenant or multi-floor buildings where you want a fibre-first distribution model. Many offices are still best served by traditional Cat6A cabling with a strong switching design. A suitability assessment clarifies the best path, and if PON is not right for you we will say so and recommend the simpler option.

How are devices powered if the network is passive?

The splitters are passive, but the endpoints, the ONT or ONU devices, are powered. Endpoint specification, including whether PoE is needed for access points, cameras or controllers, is a key part of the design. We capture every device type during discovery so each endpoint has the ports and power it needs.

Can we migrate gradually from a traditional Ethernet network?

Often, yes. A phased rollout lets you validate performance and operational processes on part of the estate before wider deployment. We plan the migration so existing switching keeps running while the fibre, splitters and endpoints go in, then cut services over zone by zone once each stage has been tested.

How long does a PON or POL installation take?

It depends on estate size, routes and access constraints. Many projects are delivered in phases: backbone fibre and splitters first, then endpoints and service cutover. We set out the programme after the site survey, including any out-of-hours working needed to avoid disrupting the people and systems already using the building.

Can PON or POL support Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control?

Yes, when it is designed correctly. Each service has different performance and security requirements, so the service mix is captured in discovery and built into the design. Endpoints are specified with the ports and PoE each system needs, and services can be separated so cameras, door controllers and Wi-Fi run independently.

How much does a passive optical network cost?

It depends on building size and floors, route and containment complexity, the number of endpoints and PoE needs, fibre type and strand count, redundancy, out-of-hours working and integration with other systems. We do not quote a fixed price without that detail. Book a free survey and we will send an itemised quote before work starts.

Wayne Connors, Founder and Managing Director of ACCL
Wayne ConnorsFounder & Managing Director

The team behind your passive optical network

Fibre engineers who tell you when PON is not the answer.

Founded in 1997, ACCL designs, installs, tests and documents fibre networks through one accountable team. Our engineers work across London, Kent, Surrey and the South East.

Wayne Connors founded ACCL in 1997 and has led our commercial cabling projects ever since, including 30km of fibre for the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the monitoring fibre in King’s Cross Gasworks Tunnel. We are a member of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Book a PON/POL suitability assessment

An itemised PON quote before work starts.

Planning a refurbishment, consolidation or backbone upgrade? We will assess whether PON or POL is the right fit and, if not, recommend the simpler alternative. One of our own engineers surveys at no cost and with no obligation.

  1. Assess Estate, services and growth reviewed.
  2. Itemised quote Fibre, splitters, endpoints and testing priced.
  3. Install and document Commissioned, tested and handed over.
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