System and method for transfer of IP data in an optical communication networks

A system to enable the transfer of Internet protocol (IP) format data over a point-to-multipoint passive optical network (PON, ) is illustrated in FIG. . An exchange is connected to a plurality of outstations via an optical communication resource including a passive optical splitter providing isolation to individual outstations. Media access control of the plurality of outstations is administered by the exchange, with collision detection logic in the exchange determining collision of Internet protocol (IP) encoded data communicated thereto through the PON. The IP encoded data realises a transport mechanism through the PON. Each of the plurality of outstations and the exchange is adapted to pass data in an IP format to and from the optical communication resource such that IP encoded data is transported, in use, directly between the outstation and the exchange.