PON access · PoE ONU
PoE ONU & Reverse PoE
PoE ONU variants for corridors, rooms and MDUs: reverse-PoE (PD) units powered by a PoE switch, PSE units that power cameras and APs, and 4/8/24-port models for floor distribution. One XPON uplink, up to 24 PoE outputs.
Updated October 24, 2026
- Uplink
- XPON / 10G PON
- PoE ports
- 1 – 24
- Modes
- PSE / PD
- Power
- 802.3af/at
The short answer
What this product is specified for.
Included in the quotation
- Port count, connector polish and power configuration
- Model-level datasheet and test data
- Optical budget and splitter plan for the ODN
- Export packing, HS code and Incoterm
A PoE ONU combines the PON termination and the power source in one box. There are two directions. A PSE ONU takes power from a local adapter and powers cameras, APs or access-control readers over its Ethernet ports. A reverse-PoE (PD) ONU does the opposite: it is powered by a PoE switch over the LAN cable, so the ONU itself needs no local socket. The first is for a cabinet with power; the second is for a ceiling or corridor where the LAN switch is the only power source.
The PSE family covers 4- and 8-port models for a room or a floor, and a 24-port model for an MDU, dormitory or small hotel. The 24-port unit takes a pluggable GPON, XG-PON or XGS-PON uplink and delivers PoE+ on up to 24 GE ports, which is effectively a PON-fed PoE switch. The reverse-PoE unit has one XPON uplink and one GE port, and draws its power from the PoE switch at the other end of the cable.
The design rule is the same as any PoE plan: add the load, check the budget and check the cable. A 24-port PoE ONU with 24 cameras at 10 W needs 240 W plus headroom, and the PON uplink must carry the aggregate. A reverse-PoE ONU is limited by the PoE class of the switch port that feeds it; if the ONU itself draws 8 W, a 15.4 W port leaves little for a downstream device. Keep the power path and the data path on the same diagram.
Configuration table
The numbers that decide the fit.
Values are from the model datasheet. Where a value is model-dependent, the table says so instead of guessing.
| Type | PON uplink | User ports | Power direction | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse PoE ONU (PD) | 1× XPON | 1× GE | Powered by a PoE switch | Corridor AP, ceiling, no local mains |
| PoE PSE ONU | 1× XPON | 1× GE + 3× FE PoE+ | Powers downstream devices | Small camera group, room |
| 4-port PoE ONU | 1× XPON | 4× GE PoE+ | Powers downstream devices | Office, clinic, shop |
| 8-port PoE ONU | 1× XPON | 8× GE PoE+ | Powers downstream devices | Floor, small site |
| 24-port PoE ONU | 1× GPON / XG(S)-PON pluggable | 24× GE PoE+ | Powers downstream devices | MDU, dormitory, hotel floor |
PoE budget and PoE class are model-specific. Confirm the total budget and the number of powered ports on the quotation.
Engineering features
What changes on site.
No local socket
The reverse-PoE ONU is powered by the LAN switch, so a ceiling or corridor install needs no mains outlet.
PSE where the devices are
A 4/8/24-port PSE ONU removes individual adapters for cameras and APs; one PON drop powers a whole floor.
One PON, many ports
The 24-port model is a PON-fed PoE switch: one pluggable PON uplink, 24 GE PoE+ outputs, one management path.
VLAN separation
Camera, guest Wi-Fi and access-control VLANs can be separated at the ONU or upstream, keeping broadcast domains small.
Remote management
OMCI/TR-069 and the OLT profile manage the ONU; per-port PoE control is available on the managed PSE models.
Budget arithmetic
A 24-port PoE ONU is not a 24 × 30 W supply. Add the load and confirm the budget before specifying the model.
Selection guide
Which configuration fits which site.
Start from the site, not from the model. The table is a starting point; the final check is the optical and power budget.
| Site | Recommended ONU | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Corridor AP with a PoE switch nearby | Reverse PoE (PD) | No mains at the ceiling; the switch port powers the ONU |
| Clinic / shop with 2–4 cameras | 4-port PoE PSE | One PON drop, four powered ports |
| Office floor with 6–8 cameras/APs | 8-port PoE PSE | One PON drop, eight powered ports |
| Hotel floor / dormitory | 24-port PoE ONU | One PON uplink, 24 PoE ports, central management |
| Mixed PON + PoE | PSE ONU + local switch | Separate the PON termination from high-density switching |
For outdoor or ceiling installation, confirm the operating temperature and the enclosure; not all ONUs are hardened.
Integration
Where it sits in the chain.
The PON chain starts at the OLT port, passes through the splitter and the ODN, and ends at the ONU. The split ratio and the connector count decide the optical margin.
- One bill of materials for the whole chain
- Connector polish and PON mode confirmed before order
- Model-level test data supplied with the shipment
Applications
Where this product is used.
Related equipment
Complete the chain.
The product is quoted as part of a chain. These are the parts that usually travel with it.
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
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PoE switching · managed & unmanaged
PoE Switches
8 to 48 PoE ports, with 10G and 100G uplinks.
PoE switch families from compact 4–8 port units to 48-port Layer 3 switches with 100G uplinks. IEEE 802.3af/at power, VLAN and IGMP isolation, and a 100 m copper limit that decides where the fibre has to take over.
- Ports
- 4 – 48 × GE PoE
- Uplinks
- GE / 10G / 100G
- Power
- 802.3af / at
- Distance
- 100 m copper
Best for CCTV & Surveillance Power · Parking Lot Camera System · Perimeter Security Power
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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
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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 specificationsProduct FAQ
PoE ONU & Reverse PoE: questions before the order.
If your question is not here, send the site details and we will answer with the calculation, not a brochure.
Ask an engineerWhat is reverse PoE?
Reverse PoE means the ONU is powered by the PoE switch over the Ethernet cable, instead of using a local adapter. It is used where the ONU sits at the ceiling or in a corridor and there is no mains socket.
Can a 24-port PoE ONU replace a PoE switch?
For a single floor or a small MDU, yes: it terminates the PON and provides 24 PoE ports. For a larger network with multiple uplinks and Layer 3 routing, use a dedicated PoE switch behind the ONU.
How much power does a PoE ONU need?
The ONU itself typically draws under 15 W; the PoE output budget is separate. A reverse-PoE model must fit the PoE class of the switch port; a PSE model’s output budget is stated on its datasheet.
Can I power a PTZ camera from a PoE ONU?
Only within the per-port and total budget. A PTZ camera with a heater can exceed 30 W; check the peak and use a higher-class port or a local supply.
Is the 24-port model compatible with GPON and XGS-PON?
The 24-port model accepts a pluggable GPON, XG-PON or XGS-PON uplink, so the same chassis can serve different PON generations with the appropriate module. Confirm the module and firmware at quotation.
Does it support VLANs?
Yes on the managed models. VLAN, QoS and IGMP behaviour follow the ONU profile and the OLT; for complex VLAN plans, confirm the feature list on the model datasheet.
Next step
Need a PoE ONU & Reverse PoE configuration checked?
Send the endpoint count, the longest run, the power condition and the destination. We reply with the configuration, the optical/power budget and the quotation assumptions.
No obligation. The plan states its assumptions so your engineer can check it.