Data transmission quality and capacity of the access network for domestic broadband communication is steadily being improved with active technology and the use of fiber optic cables. This means that customers can be offered more services. The available access network bandwidths should not end at the house entrance, but must be made available to the user with a building wiring system that matches technical requirements. Today’s cable networks with copper and coaxial lines often fail to attain the required bandwidth in the transmission routes. Coaxial networks were originally set up for television services. Future systems will require variable structures in the network topology. Interactive services will require fully functional return channels. The growth of newly available services is matched by requirements arising from customer needs. Triple Play Services (TPS) such as digital television (DVB), Internet, Internet telephony (VoIP), as well as interactive information services, such as e-Health, e-Government, and so on, require forward-looking, reliable building wiring systems that are easy to install and operate. On a physical level, the transmission protocol is Ethernet, with a data rate of 100 MBit/s (Fast Ethernet). This means that the services described above can be provided in good quality. The transmission medium is Polymer Optical Fiber (POF), a synthetic fiber optic cable.

1. Roman Dridger
Technology Consultant
+49 176/620 36 433
www.innowelt.net
INNOWELT.NET
INNONET™: POF overview
Polymeric optical fiber (POF) is an optical fiber which is made out of plastic. The core is made
of Polymeric material, and fluorinated polymers are the cladding material. Similar to
traditional glass fiber, POF transmits light (or data) through the core of the fiber. The core
size of POF is in some cases 100 times larger than glass fiber, about 1,5x3mm.
POF has been called the "consumer" optical fiber because the fiber and associated optical
links, connectors and installation are all inexpensive.
The traditional fibers are commonly used for various applications in digital home appliances,
home networks, industrial networks (PROFIBUS, PROFINET), and carnet works (MOST).
Applications
 Historic buildings
 Medicine and laboratory institutions
 Critical applications due to galvanic isolation
 Protection against lightning
 Protection against electromagnetic interferences
 Factory automation at Fast Ethernet speeds
 Fast Ethernet networking over POF and HCS
 Digital home appliance interfaces
Ethernet over POF (EoPOF) is here
The demand for consumer electronics in the home has never been greater. Home
computers, set-top boxes, media centers, home automation, gaming consoles, and other CE
devices are taking pride of place in the household.
These home technology solutions demand high bandwidth and high quality of service. The
catch is that with the number of devices increasing, in-home cable and wireless networks are
becoming complex and congested – and are losing quality of service.
With the electromagnetic interference being generated in the home and the wireless
spectrum becoming congested, cable and wireless are now unable to support high
bandwidth applications without experiencing dropped video frames, stuttering VoIP, and
more.
For example, copper cable’s susceptibility to noise from electromagnetic radiation can result
in the actual bandwidth being reduced by up to 80% with as little as 1% packet
retransmission. The latest networking technology can achieve 100% utilization of bandwidth,
promising a quality, uninterrupted user experience.

2. Roman Dridger
Technology Consultant
+49 176/620 36 433
www.innowelt.net
INNOWELT.NET
Using light waves to transmit data in the same way as glass optical fiber, Ethernet over
Plastic Optical Fiber is immune to electronic interference.
With EoPOF, real-time data streams are assured quality of service (QOS) – perfect for
multimedia applications such as IPTV, HDTV, media centers and VoIP. EoPOF is perfect for
applications in the home and office.
Benefits
 it runs standard Ethernet 100Mbps
 it can support intensive triple play (voice, video and data) services
 it is a simple installation process and is easy to test
 it is thin, durable cables are more inconspicuous in the home or office
 It is a thin, flexible cable that is easy to string between walls
 it can be safely placed next to power sources
 it can be installed in existing power ducts
 it is immune from lightning strikes (the networking port does not conduct electricity)
 POF costs less per meter than any other type of LAN cable
Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fiber is known as the ‘consumer optical fiber’, providing the
transmission reliability of glass optical fiber at a fraction of the cost for materials and
installation.
Unlike glass optical fiber and copper cabling, EoPOF is also safer and easier to install. Due to
its electrical isolation, EoPOF can be safely self-installed or installed by experts throughout
the home. Simple POF cutter can be used to terminate the connection, and a red LED (safe
to the naked eye) signals if the line is good.
And because of the large core diameter of the fiber (1,5mmx3mm), exact alignment is not
essential for the line to work adequately. The cable can even be slightly damaged with no
loss of service.
With Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fibre, it is now possible to have a complete home
Ethernet network operating from one simple, durable plastic fiber cable.
See the light and take advantage of the benefits of EoPOF for home and office networking.
 Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fiber uses optical wave guiding to transmit data
between devices.
 EoPOF meets the fast Ethernet standard of 125Mbps and has a reach of up to 80
meters, meeting the demands of most factory and commercial building networks,
home networking and automation services.
 POF cable is generally made from a Polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) core of 980nm,
as opposed to a glass optical fiber core of 50nm. The large POF core lowers the

3. Roman Dridger
Technology Consultant
+49 176/620 36 433
www.innowelt.net
INNOWELT.NET
degree of accuracy required to align the connecting fibers, making installation faster
and easier than glass fiber optics.
 Being plastic, termination of EoPOF cables can be done with a simple POF cutter,
avoiding both the complexity of terminating copper cables, and the lengthy process
required to polish glass optical fiber. The fiber’s wide diameter also means that the
cable will work even if the ends are slightly damaged or dirty.
 The undeniable advantage that Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fiber has over
traditional copper cabling is its electrical immunity. Today’s factories, homes and
offices are filled with electrical devices and wireless communications, all emitting
radiation and creating electromagnetic interference. This noise and crosstalk corrupts
the reliability of data transfer, voice and picture quality.
 Because EoPOF does not use electrical signals to transmit data, and because of its
plastic form, EoPOF networks are immune to electromagnetic interference. This
enables EoPOF networks to provide a greater quality of service for video, voice and
data streaming.
 The cost of POF cable is much cheaper than glass optical fiber, and is comparable to
Twisted Pair. But more than this, POF promises faster and safer installation
measures, lower shipping costs for a lighter weight product, and the ability to
implement space-saving design for cabling ducts.
 With these advantages and more, Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fiber is not only a
smart infrastructure investment, but also a cost effective business measure.

4. Roman Dridger
Technology Consultant
+49 176/620 36 433
www.innowelt.net
INNOWELT.NET
Advantages of EoPOF over glass optical fiber:
Fast installation: POF can be easily pulled through congested or small cable
ducts
Easy termination: No polishing or specialist machinery is required to
terminate
Low cost: POF is available at a fraction of the cost of glass optical
fiber
Robust: POF cable is more durable and flexible than glass, with half
the bend radius
Simple, safe connection test: A 650nm red LED, safe to the naked eye, is a visual cue for
a connected device
Advantages of EOPOF over Twisted Pair:
Electrical immunity: POF is immune to electromagnetic interference, crosstalk
and noise
Electrical isolation: Networking devices are electrically isolated
Space-saving: POF cable diameter is approximately 50% less than TP,
perfect for where space is at a premium
Lightweight: POF is approximately 4 times lighter than Cat.5e, saving in
shipping costs
Fast termination: Termination can be done with a simple POF cutter
Robust: POF withstands greater vibration
Easy installation: Can be placed next to power sources
Simple connection test: A 650nm LED light source is a visual cue for a connected
device
Greater security: POF cable is difficult to tap without being detected
Zero radiation: No generation of electromagnetic radiation
Quality of service: Particularly for high demand triple play services of video,
data and voice streaming
Greater installation POF can be installed in new building connections where TP
opportunities: is not possible due to existing infrastructure constraints
For more information about INNONET™, please visit our homepage: www.innowelt.net