In a PON network, material costs account for about what fraction of total costs?

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Multiple Choice

In a PON network, material costs account for about what fraction of total costs?

Explanation:
Material costs in a PON deployment are typically around one third of the total project cost. The network relies on passive components like fiber, splitters, connectors, and enclosures, which are essential upfront, but the biggest expense comes from labor—trenching, pulling fiber, splicing, terminating, testing, and coordinating installation and activation—along with related costs such as permits and rights-of-way. Because this labor and civil work drive most of the expense, materials only account for roughly 30–35% of total costs, making the one-third choice the best fit. The other options would imply a larger share for materials or a much smaller share for labor, which doesn’t align with typical PON cost structures.

Material costs in a PON deployment are typically around one third of the total project cost. The network relies on passive components like fiber, splitters, connectors, and enclosures, which are essential upfront, but the biggest expense comes from labor—trenching, pulling fiber, splicing, terminating, testing, and coordinating installation and activation—along with related costs such as permits and rights-of-way. Because this labor and civil work drive most of the expense, materials only account for roughly 30–35% of total costs, making the one-third choice the best fit. The other options would imply a larger share for materials or a much smaller share for labor, which doesn’t align with typical PON cost structures.

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