FTTx: Demand for Speed | FTTx and FTTh

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FTTx: Demand for Speed

FTTx and FTTh

Figure 1. The FTTC installation.

The networks of optical fiber access are very convincing by their enormous bandwidth. They are the latest in connection technology by cable to transmit data at the best speeds with the present and future applications. These networks of FTTX can be created of efficient and reasonable way with holistic solutions for the passive infrastructure.

But really we needed lines of greater yield for the subscribers? Some recent studies of market, the experts in the communication area and the first experiences of the sector with projects that imply NGA (Accesses of Future Generation) give the answer us: the fast technologies of connection and networks of access are indispensable to do the future in an efficient use of the increasing number of applications in supply that use a great amplitude of band and which they depend on intensive transactions of data. Services exist already nowadays that with the last versions of DSL have reached their limits of operation. With this situation like basic curtain, the operators and the suppliers must watch beyond the lines of subscription with copper base and take the opportune actions to prepare their networks of access for the exigencies of bandwidth and the new scenes of market that prehorseradish tree in a world based on IP. Expert organizations and international institutions agree to a large extent in which the future she belongs to the networks of optical fiber access (FTTx). For example, in her comparison of different technologies from access, the Organization for the Economic Cooperation and the Development (the OECD) concluded that the networks of FTTh offer the best yield by end user in terms of bandwidth and sustainability, being these therefore those that probably will prevail in the future between all the alternatives considered [Report 2008b of the OECD - April of 2008].

Figure 2. A greater bandwidth thanks to FTTx.

Strategy and effectiveness

This technology is less favorable in terms of economy. The relatively high costs of investment are mentioned like a defect, like other factors critics like operator models and yield, separated invoicing and subjects of regulation not yet solved. However, the adoption of an attitude of `to hope to see that pasa' seems advisable little, dice the ferociously competitive climate of nowadays. However, the network operators would have to develop a strategy in the mid term focused to FTTx. Only a handful of operators or alternative operators is in a position technologically and economically speaking to turn their networks of access to the optical fiber technology with a single step. In the majority of the cases, it will only be possible to be reached FTTx by means of intermediate solutions and phases of migration, which deposits majors demands and responsibilities on planners and electricians. Passive the infrastructure solutions able to support inherited networks and the optical fiber technology are made important still more. They provide the required flexibility and the security of the investment. FTTx is the habitually used abbreviation in the industry for several versions of networks of optical fiber access. The end point of the optical fiber cable determines what means the “x”: FTTC (Fiber until Acera, P. ex. to the following external distributor), FTTB (Fiber until the Building) and FTTH (Fiber until the Subscriber). Although these abbreviations have become quite common, is important to continue remembering their meaning and the different strategies that imply. Of another way it would be too easy to obtain an image distorted of the topology, of the distribution until the end user and of the ratios of cost-benefits. It is necessary to exert precaution when the publications speak of concepts as the optical fiber network or bandwidth without providing concrete data on the access technology. The packages of VDSL2 offered by Deutsche Telekom and Swisscom are prominent examples of FTTC. The partial substitution of copper segments with the optical fiber in combination with last technology DSL is an obvious strategy of growth for the traditional and dominant operators in each country, P. ex. established operators who own a system of telephone lines practically perfect (that she has been developed of organic form with time). VDSL2 is simply an intermediate technological step in the broadband world with optical fiber networks of Access of Future Generation. FTTx can offer to the clients a speed of transmission of 100 Mbps (or even a speed of Gigabits to enterprise clients) following the version of selected extension. These speeds in the mid term cover the foreseeable needs of bandwidth, still assuming the intensive use of IPTV and HDTV. Several urban operators of network are now developing solutions as these or in some places are even already operative. The 100 speeds of Mbps are or feasible if the fiber goes “only” until the building (FTTB) and the traffic of data is sent thence through existing wiring in the building, p.ej from a LAN, to the place of work or the home. FTTB approximately reduces the expenses of investment in a 20 percent compared with an extension FTTH. In addition, a FTTB network can migrate of relatively easy form to a network FTTH in a later phase of expansion. Quality and availability The high expectations that people have in the NGA networks are also affecting the technology of the infrastructure of passive network. The enormous amounts of data must be transmitted quickly and of trustworthy form. The characteristics of the systems of average connection and distribution are not enough already to fulfill the exigencies of bandwidth. It is needed to even count on more quality and availability that before. It is a question to fulfill the decided levels on watch, to obtain the satisfaction of the client and to assure the sources entrance. In the development of these networks, the interaction of the active levels and liabilities must be still examined with more thoroughness in the future. Completely developed total solutions for networks of P2P and PON access can solely do this.

Figure 3. Typical infrastructure of FTTx.

An evolution market

The optical fiber connections (still) play a role subordinated in the majority of the European countries in comparison with other economic regions. Japan is the leader at world-wide level with more than 10 million connections FTTH. Every month almost 300,000 new clients decide on FTTH and other 60,000 change from the ADSL to the FTTH. In South Korea, connections FTTB/LAN represent more of the 35 percent of the total and in Hong Kong they suppose 28% approximately. With 3 million connected homes and indices of growth that exceed the 100 percent, the EE.UU are also in front of Europe in the global classification of FTTH. In an interview with the page Web Portel.de, Profesor (FH) Hartwig Tauber, Chief of a main directorate of the Council of Europe for FTTH, explains that the picture also improvement gradually in Europe. “At the initial moments of expansion of the optical fiber in 2004, its progress in Europe was slow” says “and we approximately foretold about 3 million connections FTTH towards 2010. But the reality is that we counted with approximately 1.8 million connections in Europe at the moment and hoped to see that number raises until 5.5 million in 2010 and to approximately 15 million in 2012”. In terms of level on watch, for example the number of connections by each 100 homes, Sweden and Denmark will lead the list of the 10 first countries in Europe with FTTH in 2012, the 36.9 percent and the 29.2 percent respectively. According to the conclusions of Council FTTH, the broadband speeds in Europe they increase in an annual rate of more of the 50 percent. The broadband use grows around a 20 percent per year, while the homes with a broadband connection FTTH generate three times more traffic than the homes with ADSL. This is an impressive test of the thesis that the end users practically make use of immediate form of accesses of greater bandwidth at the moment at which they are available (since structure of prices is attractive). Speaking of the economic importance of the extension of the fiber the optics, Professor Tauber observes that Greece, Portugal and Finland have followed the example of Sweden now, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands and are sending by his own account important FTTH programs. In some cases, they are even state programs directed to generally provide authentic access to the broadband to the population. FTTH is also advancing of form maintained in France and Slovenia, where the national companies of telecommunication have begun their implementation by all the country. Professor Tauber comments: “With an increasing number of companies that they select the location of its business based on the infrastructure of ICT available, the deficiency of services of FTTH in a country or region could soon become a remarkable disadvantage from the economic point of view. The harmonization in Europe Besides the financing, the deficiency of regulation in this area in all the European Union raises the greater obstacle to the expansion of networks of optical fiber access. In September of 2008, the European Commission initiated a public consultation on the regulating principles that are to be applied by the Member States of European Union to the networks of Access of Future Generation. Europe tries to harmonize certain categories, services concretely regulated, conditions of access, honoraria and indices of risk. The object is to assure the standard treatment the operators of network in the European Union and thus to generate the so important legal security for the investments. One hopes generally that the recommendation of European Union is a signal for the future cooperation of companies of telecommunications and alternative operators of networks. It will facilitate the open access. Meeting the challenges There are a multitude of topologies and expositions for the implementation and the extension, including hybrid solutions. This fact only gives an idea us of the many decisions by which FTTX “enriches” the lives of planners of networks. In many optical fiber projects, the operators of networks have chosen to manufacturers of solutions of high quality and reliability, like for example R& M, like partner supplier of the wiring for the passive infrastructure. They look for to benefit to size from its capacity in the creation of solutions and their many years of international experience. The planning and the creation of networks of access of FTTx are a complex subject. Each network is different. Each operator has his own strategy; each city, its own unique local situation. But in all the projects, an important priority is to reduce to the minimum the costs of personnel and the time inverted in the installation. The answer: the challenges of FTTx can be obtained using a wiring system completely to modulate in combination with technical support and solutions done specifically for the client.

Author: David Lopez, Director of Carrier for R& M Spain and Portugal