Which characteristic defines a passive optical network (PON)?

A passive optical network (PON) is defined primarily by its use of optical splitters to serve multiple endpoints. This characteristic allows a single optical fiber to connect multiple users by splitting the optical signal, making PONs a cost-effective solution for delivering broadband services over a single fiber connection.

The use of optical splitters is fundamental to the architecture of a PON. These splitters can distribute the signal from a single fiber to multiple subscribers without the need for active components such as amplifiers or repeaters between the service provider and the end user. This passive design helps in reducing both operational and maintenance costs, as well as simplifying the overall network infrastructure.

In contrast, active electronic components are not utilized in PONs, which is why the first choice is not representative of a PON’s defining characteristic. While installation costs can vary based on many factors, a PON's passive nature generally contributes to lower costs compared to fully active architectures. Lastly, while PONs can support high bandwidth, they do not provide unlimited bandwidth; rather, they share the available bandwidth among multiple users, which is a common limitation in network sharing scenarios.