Personal computers running software based photonic design automation tools are making network design faster, cheaper and more efficient. To simplify and visualise simulation, these programs have:

• GUI (Graphical User Interface) allowing engineer to design network visualising equipment and wires by using icons and connections. Measurement tools (signal generators, optical power meters, spectrum analyzers, and optical-loss sets) are using icons for its representation too.
• Tools for interaction with designed network during simulation. Engineer can change values, connections, parameters and see how it results for network. These tools are mostly used during the early stages of design, when designer is modeling the performance bounds.
• Statistical and analysis tools used for measurement, error-rate performance evaluations, statical analysis and signal processing. Spectral, electrical and eye diagrams, time waveforms and error-rate curves are used to display all the necessary information.

Simulation tools are useful for modeling long-range networks and designing of physical layer of FTTH/FTTP networks. As an example, design of a BPON FTTP network with 32 subscribers and 20-km reach will include:

• Voice and video transmitters at the Central Office
• VOIP (Voice-Over-IP) service representing the voice component
• Data/voice transmitter operating at 1.25 Gbps
• 16-QAM CATV SCM (Subscriber Multiplexer) signal is representing video
• Fiber length is 20 km
• Each of the 32 subscriber paths goes through up to three splitters and a number of splices
• Total signal attenuation from splitters and spans is about 29 dB
• Consideration of all dispersion, attenuation and non-linear effects
• The triple-service ONT consists of data/VOIP and video receivers.