In a PON there could be used many different types of cables, which fiber counts are in range from 8 to 432. The loose-tube cables are having 12 to 432 fibers, but it is big and heavy, while ribbon cable having 8 to 72 fibers is much smaller and its structure allows the construction of a compact cable for feeder installations or distribution sections in PON. Both cables are used for connection of the central office with the optical splitter, but only loose-tube cable is usually used in accessing the individual fibers because of easy installation. In PON, drop cables are using one or two fibers for residential interfaces and 6 to 12 fibers for commercial applications. Usage of correctly chosen cables is very important in PON, it is affecting reliability and costs for troubleshooting and testing.

The most popular and reliable splitters for the PON network, are PLC-based splitters which can work in various temperatures and wavelengths. Standards are: from -40° and 1280 nm, up to +85°C and 1650 nm. Signal loss is low and is from 10.5 dB in 1-to-8 couplers to 18 dB in 1-to-32 couplers. Output signal loss is less then 1 dB in 1-to-8 and less then 2.2 dB in 1-to-32. Standard splitter is having connectors attached to the outputs, for easy attachment to distribution fibers. Sometimes, manufacturers use eight-fiber ribbon modules that make device more compact. Ribbons allow easily connect low-loss connectors, because ribbons are fanned out.

Optical splitter and its connectors should be protected from the environment, so they require below-surface or aerial installations, that prevent water ingress.