Application · hospitality
Hotel All-Optical
A hotel all-optical design for guest rooms, lobby, restaurant and corridors: a GPON or EPON OLT, 1:32/1:64 splitters, room ONTs with Wi-Fi 6 and optional CATV/POTS, and PoF or PoE ceiling APs for the corridor. One ODN, separate VLANs for guest, staff and payment traffic, one management view.
Updated October 24, 2026
- Copper limit
- 100 m
- PoF limit
- 200 m
- PoF power
- 12 W / port
- PON reach
- 20 km
The engineering problem
Why the obvious answer fails.
The endpoint is small; the distance, the power and the environment are not. Three paragraphs explain where the design usually breaks.
A hotel is not one network. Guest rooms need reliable Wi-Fi, TV and sometimes voice; the lobby and restaurant need high-density Wi-Fi and payment separation; corridors need coverage without a socket at every ceiling point. A single copper access network struggles to serve all three at the right cost.
In-room triple-play usually means three separate services: internet, IPTV/CATV and POTS. Running separate copper for each service increases cable, terminations and failure points. A fibre-to-the-room ONT can terminate data, TV and voice on one drop, with the right port options.
Corridor APs are often the hardest part. A ceiling AP may be beyond the 100 m PoE channel from the nearest cabinet, or there may be no mains at the ceiling. PoF can carry data and up to 12 W over a hybrid cable to 200 m; where the ceiling has mains and the run is short, PoE is simpler.
Path comparison
Four paths, one decision.
The correct path is the one that matches the endpoint power, the distance and the presence of mains. Do not compare only on cable price.
| Path | Reach | Power at the endpoint | Mains at endpoint | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper PoE | 100 m channel | 15.4 / 30 W at the source (af / at) | Required for the switch | Devices within 100 m of a powered cabinet | Cable loss, surge path, no reach beyond 100 m |
| PoE extender | 200 – 500 m with hops | Reduced at each hop | Required at every extender | Retrofit where a mid-point has power | Another powered box outdoors; still copper |
| Power over Fiber | Up to 200 m per port | Up to 12 W per port | Not required | Ceiling APs, pole cameras, readers, sensors | 12 W per port, hybrid cable, 200 m limit |
| Fibre + local PoE switch | 20 km PON backhaul | Local switch budget | Required at the local cabinet | Cabinets, buildings, dense clusters | Needs a powered cabinet and a switch |
The correct path is the one that matches the endpoint power, the distance and the presence of mains. Do not compare only on cable price.
Design approach
How we lay it out.
One fibre to the room
Terminate a GPON or EPON OLT in the equipment room, split 1:32 or 1:64, and run one fibre to each room ONT. The ONT provides Wi-Fi 6, four GE ports and optional CATV/POTS.
Separate guest, staff and payment traffic
Use VLANs and SSIDs for guest, staff, POS/payment and management. Keep the payment network isolated and apply client isolation on guest Wi-Fi.
Choose PoF or PoE for the corridor
Use PoE where the ceiling is within 100 m of a powered cabinet. Use PoF where the ceiling has no mains or the run is 100–200 m, with a PoF splitter and ceiling AP.
One management view
Manage OLT, ONUs and APs through OMCI/TR-069 and the AC/cloud platform. Batch firmware, SSID and VLAN changes instead of visiting rooms.
Bill of materials
A starting BOM.
Quantities follow the endpoint count and the number of cabinets. Adjust after the site survey.
| Line | Typical configuration | Why it is in the BOM |
|---|---|---|
| OLT | 8–16 PON ports, 1:32/1:64 split, 20 km | Sizes the room count and the uplink |
| PLC splitter | 1:32 or 1:64, SC/UPC or SC/APC | Matches the ODN and the optical budget |
| Room ONT | 4× GE + Wi-Fi 6; CATV/POTS optional | Data, TV and voice on one fibre |
| Corridor AP | PoF ceiling AP or PoE ceiling/wall AP | Coverage where the room ONT cannot reach |
| PoF splitter and cable | 8 outputs + cascade, 3/20/50 m hybrid cable | Only where the ceiling has no mains |
| ODF, patch cords, enclosures | SC/UPC or SC/APC, 12–96 ports | Terminates and labels the ODN |
| Management | OMCI, TR-069, AC/cloud, VLAN plan | Guest/staff/payment separation and remote support |
Port count, split ratio and PoF/PoE mix follow the room count, corridor layout and ceiling power. Confirm the final BOM on the quotation.
Numbers to check
The design rules.
| Design rule | Value to confirm |
|---|---|
| Room ONT per drop | 1 ONT per room; 1:32 normal, 1:64 for shorter ODN |
| PON reach | 20 km Class B+; keep 3 dB ageing margin |
| PoE corridor limit | 100 m channel, including patch cords |
| PoF corridor limit | 200 m per port, ≤12 W per AP |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 per room; Wi-Fi 6/7 for lobby and high-density areas |
| Security | Guest isolation; separate VLANs for staff and POS |
Recommended equipment
What this design usually uses.
PON access · OLT
GPON OLT
From a 1-PON gateway to a 112-PON headend.
GPON OLT platforms for FTTH, campus and hotel access: 2.5 Gbps downstream and 1.25 Gbps upstream, 1:64 split per PON port and 20 km reach on Class B+ optics. Configurations run from a compact 1-PON gateway with built-in AC to a chassis with up to 112 PON ports.
- Line rate
- 2.5 Gbps ↓ / 1.25 Gbps ↑
- Max split
- 1:64 per PON port
- Reach
- 20 km, Class B+
- PON ports
- 1 – 112
Best for FTTH Access Network · Campus Fibre Network · Outdoor Wireless Coverage
View specifications
PON access · ONU / ONT
GPON / XPON ONU & ONT
From a 1-GE bridge to a 4-GE Wi-Fi 6 gateway.
XPON ONU and ONT options for FTTH, hotel rooms, offices and outdoor cabinets: 1, 2 or 4 GE ports, Wi-Fi 4/5/6, CATV and POTS options, and 10G PON models. All units are SC single-mode, 20 km, EPON/GPON dual-mode where the model supports it.
- PON
- XPON, EPON/GPON
- User ports
- 1 – 4 × GE
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 4 / 5 / 6
- Reach
- 20 km
Best for FTTH Access Network · Campus Fibre Network · Outdoor Wireless Coverage
View specifications
Power over Fiber · access
PoF Switch & PoF ONU
One hybrid cable to the ceiling: data and 12 W.
A Power-over-Fiber access set: an optical gateway, an 8-output PoF power splitter, hybrid PoF cable and a ceiling Wi-Fi 6 ONU. Each output delivers up to 12 W to 200 m, so ceiling APs and cameras run without a local mains socket.
- Power per port
- Up to 12 W
- Reach
- Up to 200 m
- Outputs
- 8 + 1 cascade
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 AX3000
Best for Outdoor Wireless Coverage · Campus Fibre Network · Parking Lot Camera System
View specifications
CPE & wireless · access points
Wi-Fi AP & AC
Ceiling, wall-plate and high-density APs.
Wi-Fi 6/7 access points and software AC for hotels, campuses and offices: ceiling APs with 2.5GE PoE, wall-plate APs, high-density models, PoF ceiling APs and a built-in or software AC.
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi 7
- Uplink
- GE / 2.5GE / PoF
- Power
- PoE / PoF
- Management
- AC / OLT
Best for Campus Fibre Network · Outdoor Wireless Coverage · FTTH Access Network
View specifications
PON access · ODN
Fiber Optic Splitter (PLC)
1×2 to 1×64, SC/UPC or SC/APC.
Planar lightwave circuit splitters from 1×2 to 1×64 for PON ODN construction. Typical insertion loss runs from 3.6 dB at 1×2 to 20.5 dB at 1×64; each batch ships with test data and the connector polish you specify.
- Ratios
- 1×2 – 1×64
- Wavelength
- 1260 – 1650 nm
- Insertion loss
- 3.6 – 20.5 dB
- Connector
- SC/UPC / SC/APC
Best for FTTH Access Network · Campus Fibre Network · CCTV & Surveillance Power
View specifications
Software · management
Network Management & Cloud Platform
One view of OLT, ONU, AP and PoE.
Management options for PON and PoE networks: OLT-based OMCI/OAM, SNMP/CLI, TR-069 ACS and a cloud platform for topology, provisioning, alarms and remote maintenance across multiple sites.
- PON management
- OMCI / OAM
- Switching
- SNMP / CLI
- CPE
- TR-069 ACS
- Cloud
- Topology / alarms
Best for FTTH Access Network · Campus Fibre Network · Industrial & Tunnel Network
View specificationsApplication FAQ
Hotel All-Optical: site questions.
If your question is not here, send the site details and we will answer with the calculation, not a brochure.
Ask an engineerCan one fibre really deliver data, TV and voice to a hotel room?
Yes, with an ONT that has the required ports. A Wi-Fi 6 ONT can provide data and Wi-Fi; CATV and POTS are options on selected models. The OLT, splitter and ONT must be quoted as one chain so the wavelengths, connectors and service profiles match.
Should the corridor use PoF or PoE?
Use PoE when the ceiling AP is within 100 m of a powered cabinet and the load is within the switch budget. Use PoF when the ceiling has no mains or the run is 100–200 m, and the AP load is 12 W or less. Do not use PoF for a high-power AP or a device with a heater.
How many rooms can one PON port serve?
Up to 32 rooms at 1:32, or up to 64 at 1:64, but plan for 50–70% fill. A 1:32 split leaves more optical margin and is the safer starting point for a hotel with CATV overlay or long corridors.
Can the hotel keep its existing TV headend?
A 1550 nm CATV overlay can be combined onto the same ODN with a WDM coupler and received by an ONT with a CATV port. The OLT does not generate CATV; the transmitter and EDFA sit beside it. Confirm the RF level and the ONT input range before the order.
How are guest, staff and payment networks separated?
Use separate VLANs and SSIDs, client isolation on guest Wi-Fi, ACLs between VLANs, and a dedicated payment VLAN. The exact profile is configured on the OLT/AC; the quotation should state the VLAN and SSID plan.
What is a sensible first phase for a hotel retrofit?
Start with one floor: one OLT port, one splitter, the room ONTs and the corridor APs. Test Wi-Fi coverage, CATV level, VLAN separation and roaming before extending to the next floor. A floor is large enough to expose the real problems and small enough to correct without reworking the whole building.
Next step
Planning Hotel All-Optical?
Send the device list, the longest run, the mains condition and the country. We return the path, the BOM and the budget assumptions.
No obligation. The plan states its assumptions so your engineer can check it.