This Recommendation describes a higher speed bidirectional point-to-point (HS-PtP) Ethernet-based optical access system for the optical access services including the optical distribution network (ODN) specification, the physical layer specification, services requirements and the operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) specification.

For an effective use of optical fibres cited in [ITU-T G.986], this Recommendation specifies only a single fibre bidirectional transmission system, also known as diplex working as defined in [ITU-T G.982]. Dual-fibre systems are out of the scope of this Recommendation. This Recommendation also specifies systems with line rate at 10 Gbit/s. Line rates higher than 25 Gbit/s are for future study.

In addition, this Recommendation describes the case of a single domain managed optical network unit (ONU) and related optical line termination (OLT) requirements. The case of a dual domain managed ONU and related OLT requirements are for future study.