Fiber to the premises

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mirror Vax (talk | contribs) at 11:48, 2 October 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

File:Fiber optic bundle.jpg
Optical fibers

Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) or Fiber to the Home (FTTH) is a broadband telecommunications system based on fiber-optic cables and associated optical electronics for delivery of multiple advanced services such as the triple play of telephone, broadband Internet and television all the way to the home or business.

In the near future, FTTP, also referred to as Extreme Broadband, will deliver performance speeds exceeding 100 Mbps downstream. In contrast, Fiber to the Node/Neighborhood (FTTN) stops short of delivering and physically attaching a fiber optic cable directly to the home or business, therefore, is not classified as Extreme Broadband.

Fiber-optic technology deployment costs are decreasing, making this technology a competitor to existing services. KMI Research forecasts that the total FTTP market for equipment, cable, and apparatus will reach $3.2 billion in 2009. [1]

Technology

Two competing FTTP technologies are Active FTTP, also called Active Ethernet, and passive optical network (PON) architectures.

Active FTTP networks utilize powered (i.e. 'active') electronic equipment in neighborhoods, usually one equipment cabinet for every 400-500 subscribers. This neighborhood equipment performs layer 2/layer 3 switching and routing, offloading full layer 3 routing to the carrier's central office. The IEEE 802.3ah standard enables service providers to deliver up to 100 Mbit/s full-duplex over one single-mode optical fiber to the premises depending on the provider. Service providers using Active FTTP technologies include SureWest, iProvo, Grant County, Washington, UTOPIA, and Broadweave Networks.

Passive optical network (PON) FTTP networks on the other hand avoid the placement of electronics in the field. PON networks use passive splitters to distribute fiber to individual homes. One fiber is optically split into 16, 32, or 64 fibers, depending on the manufacturer, which are then distributed to residential or business subscribers. In PON architectures, the switching and routing is done at the carrier's central office. Service providers using PON include Verizon (FiOS), AT&T (U-Verse), and several greenfield development networks.

Availability by Country

Asia

Japan

FTTH, often called FTTP in Japan, was first introduced in 1999, and did not become a large player until 2001. In 2003-2004, FTTH grew at a remarkable rate, and DSL's growth slowed. 4.63 million FTTH connections (includes 1.99 million FTTX for multifamily housing) are reported in March, 2006 in Japan.

FTTH first started with 10Mbit/s (at end-user rate) passive optical network (PON) by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), and 100Mbit/s (at end-user rate) with GEPON (Gigabit Ethernet-PON) or broadband PON is major one in 2006. PON is major system for FTTH by NTT, but some competitive services present 1Gbit/s (at end-user rate) with SS (Single Star).

Major application services on fibers are voice over IP, video-IP telephony, IPTV (IP television), IPv6 services and so on.

Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan's capital city, will be getting its first Broadband Passive Optical Network (BPON) based FTTH network in April, 2006. Nayatel is laying down its single mode fiber (G.652d) based access network and expects to the fiber to be lit by April 15, 2006. Based on Alcatel's access technology, Nayatel's network will offer triple play (voice, data and video services). Initially, video will be carried in the 1550nm band and later Nayatel will switch to IPTV. Initial coverage will be limited to Blue Area as well as the diplomatic enclave. Coverage to F-11, F-10, I-10, F-6, F-7 and F-8 sectors is expected before August, 2006. Nayatel expects 30,000 subscribers by the end of 2006. This will make Islamabad the first city in the region to get FTTH service.

Of the two competitiors namely Wateen (Warid's sister company) and Worldcall, which succeeded in getting the next 30 yrs project for laying underground fibers in the Islamabad. They will be providing connections to almost all the sectors of Islamabad starting from Blue Area and the diplomatic enclave.

Users will have the provision of triple play. The total number of house passes per node will be around 20. Hence providing a very good uplink and downlink speeds.

Europe

Croatia

The first provider to offer FTTH in Croatia is Vodatel. As for September 2006, Vodatel service was available only in capital Zagreb, with plans of covering other major towns in near future.

Czech Republic

In Prague FTTH (1/10/100 Mbit/s) service called ViaGia provided by T-Systems is available in mostly new houses built by CentralGroup company. There are some smaller FTTH networks in Brno, Frýdek-Místek and Most.

Denmark

In Denmark, the northern parts of Zealand north and west of Copenhagen, the Power Company DONG Energy is providing FTTH to areas where they are laying airborne power cables in the ground, with 100 Mbit/s connection. The services on the FTTH will be provided by external providers. The plan is to have all of these areas provided with FTTH by 2010 and then follow up on those areas that haven't been giving the opportunity during that time.

France

A residential fibre service has been deployed in the 15th Arrondissement (borough) of Paris by Cité Fibre. Bandwidth allocated to each user is 100 Mbit/s with 30 Mbit/s reserved for internet traffic. The package includes Digital Television and VoIP Telephone services along with the above-mentioned unlimited internet starting at 49€ per month. The 15th arrondissement was probably selected for its comparatively high residential population.

The Cité Fibre website also contains an excellent comparison of residential fibre technology with existing cable and DSL/ADSL.

In June 2006, France Telecom/Orange SA launched a test program for FTTH in some arrondissements of Paris. It proposes up to 2,5 Gbit/s upstream and 1,2 Gbit/s downstream per 30 users using PON for 70€ a month.

In September 2006, Free announced a €30 a month quadruple play offer including 50 Mbit/s Internet connection, free phone calls to 28 countries and high-definition television.

Iceland

In Iceland, FTTH deployment has begun by Orkuveita Reykjavikur (Reykjavik Power Company), they have already begun connecting the towns of Seltjarnarnes, Akranes and parts of Reykjavík, with estimated 50% of Reykjavik connected by 2008 and all of Reykjavík, Seltjarnes, Akranes, Mosfellsbær, Þorlákshöfn and Hveragerði connected by 2012, other areas are pending an agreement by the city officials. OR only owns the FTTH network; ISP services is provided by HIVE, Skýrr, Vortex and VoIP service is now available from HIVE and video will be provided by other third party providers. As time passes, it is expected that other companies will also take part of OR FTTH network. The monthly cost of having the FTTH in house is 1.990 ISK (approx $26 US dollars) which is a little more then having a phone line in the house which costs 1.340 ISK (approx $18 US dollars); this does not include any services. All FTTH connections are 100 Mbit/s but today ISP services offer speeds of 10Mbit/s, 20 Mbit/s and 30 Mbit/s.

Netherlands

In The Netherlands in the city Eindhoven and a nearby village called Nuenen, there is a large network with 15 000 connections. triple play is offered. Houses and companies are connected with single-mode fibre. The network is owned by the members itself, who did form a corporation. The first European FTTH project was also in Eindhoven in a neighborhood known as the "Vlinderflats". This was a multi-mode fibre but was in 2005 changed to single-mode fibre. FTTH resulted in new broadband services; the inhabitants started their own broadband TV station called VlinderTV.

Romania

In Romania, FTTH was first deployed in Timisoara by RDS. Currently, it is available in Bucharest, Alexandria, Arad, Barlad, Brasov, Constanta, Craiova, Dr. Turnu Severin, Oradea, Pitesti, Resita, Sibiu, Timisoara si Tg. Mures. The name of the service is FiberLink.

Slovenia

In Slovenia, FTTH was first deployed in Kranj by T-2 company. Currently optical fiber infrastructure for FFTH is being built by Gratel in Ljubljana, Koper, Novo Mesto and Murska Sobota. T-2 offers speeds up to 1Gbit/s over FTTH.

Middle East

Kuwait

South Surra, in four cities, Alsalam, Hutteen, Alshuhada, and future Seddeek. The project started on 2003, and hasn't finished yet as of September 2006. The equipment is from Alcatel.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai Internet City, formally Sahm Technologies offer triple play services to properties within the Emaar properties, Dubai Marina, Emirates Lakes, Hills development.

North America

United States

In the United States, the largest FTTP deployment to date is Verizon's FiOS. Verizon is the only Regional Bell Operating Company thus far to deploy FTTP on a large scale.

With its U-Verse product, AT&T (formerly SBC) is pursuing a strategy of Fiber to the Neighborhood (FTTN) and does not deliver Fiber to the Premises (FTTP). AT&T has deployed FTTN in the Dallas, Texas area, including the Richardson, Texas neighborhood of Richland Park. The company is currently providing telephone and broadband Internet services over Fiber to the Node/Neighborhood in this area.

Broadweave Networks has multiple FTTP installations in new or greenfield communities in the west, including a contract with the Utah State Trust Lands Administration for up to 21,000 units in Washington County, Utah.

EATEL offers FTTP in the Ascension Parish, Louisiana area. Services currently available via their fiber-optic network include telephone, broadband Internet and television, which includes video on demand and regular broadcasts.

Several carriers, municipalities, and planned communities across America are deploying their own fiber networks.

Oceania

Australia

Telstra and Optus provide FTTP to many residential premises in metropolitan regions. A connection fee for the wiring to the house is charged, then the user pays for each service separately (phone, TV, Internet).

New Zealand

Telecom New Zealand (dominant telco) is starting a FTTP trial in a new subdivision (Flat Bush) in Manukau city in May 2006. Pricing isn't yet set. Vector Communications provides fiber to premises in very limited Auckland CBD and Wellington CBD for around NZ$329 unlimited per month. You can also get fiber to premises services from Citylink in Wellington - price suggests this is for businesses only.

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fiber_to_the_premises&oldid=79028289"