System and method for protecting an extended passive optical network

Extender apparatus for an optical network, comprising:

• a first extender unit having an network-facing port for connection to a first backhaul fiber and a subscriber-facing port for connection to a first feeder fiber and including a first gain assembly, the first extender unit being operable selectively either in an enabled state, in which the first gain assembly amplifies a signal received at either port of the first extender unit and couples it to the other port of the first extender unit, or in a disabled state, in which the first gain assembly blocks coupling of a signal from either port of the first extender unit to the other port of the first extender unit,
• a second extender unit having an network-facing port for connection to a second backhaul fiber and a subscriber-facing port for connection to a second feeder fiber and including a second gain assembly, the second extender unit being operable selectively either in an enabled state, in which the second gain assembly amplifies a signal received at either port of the second extender unit and couples it to the other port of the second extender unit, or in a disabled state, in which the second gain assembly blocks coupling of a signal from either port of the second extender unit to the other port of the second extender unit, and
• a failover unit that is operable when the first extender unit is in the enabled state and the second extender unit is in the disabled state to detect occurrence of at least one fault condition in the first extender unit, the failover unit being responsive to said fault condition in the first extender unit to switch the first extender unit to the disabled state and the second extender unit to the enabled state.