Which type of PON topology places the optical splitters at the headend and then routes them to each customer premises?

The correct answer, which identifies the type of Passive Optical Network (PON) topology that places optical splitters at the headend and routes them to each customer's premises, is rooted in the foundational structure of each topology type.

In a home-run topology, every customer is connected directly to the headend without the use of intermediate connections. This setup allows for a straightforward and dedicated path from the central office or headend to each subscriber's location. By having the optical splitters positioned at the headend, the home-run topology efficiently manages connections, ensuring that the signal can be divided and distributed to multiple end users with minimal loss and optimal performance.

Other topologies like ring, mesh, and tree have different configurations. For instance, in a tree topology, while there may be points of branching and connectivity like a home-run, the splitters would typically be located along the path rather than exclusively at the headend. Ring and mesh topologies involve more complex interconnections and loops between nodes and don’t typically employ the same direct headend-to-subscriber structure seen in a home-run topology. This distinction highlights why the home-run approach is the most effective model for direct routing from the optical splitter located at the headend to the end-user premises.