FTTx: The technology of fiber to homes and businesses
Thank you to the participants who joined the Flytec and ITA optical fiber technology presentation. The presentation slides are available for free download in English and Spanish. The presentation was prepared to provide information about the design and build out of fiber networks and the delivery of Internet and other services to subscribers.
The presentation has three parts:
The Internet last mile connection
This section reviews the different technologies that are deployed to connect homes and businesses to the Internet network. The technologies are compared.
Optical fiber technology
Benefits of optical fiber, data delivery methods over fiber, fiber network topologies, the products required to build out a fiber network and a review of equipment providers.
ISP management tools
The management of subscribers, the ISP management software, the network control broadband network gateway and expansion of the ISP network.
A summary is presented at the end of the presentation providing the next steps for anyone who wants to develop ISP services using optical fiber to the home or business.
A detailed contents list of the presentation is shown below.
1. Internet last mile connection
Competing technologies
DSL and cable over copper, fiber and four wireless alternatives, WISP over unlicensed bands, 5G fixed broadband data over licensed bands, low earth orbit satellites and geo-stationary satellites.
Copper vs. optical fiber vs. wireless
Comparison of each last mile technology with the benefits and disadvantages of each.
Service providers want to sell ‘triple-play’
The advantage for the ISP of a high speed broadband over fiber service is that several services such as data, TV and phone can be bundled to increase revenue per customer.
2. Optical fiber
Pros and cons of FTTH
An analysis of the characteristics of FTTH, the main benefits for the customer are data speed and reliability while the disadvantage for the ISP is the cost of installing the fiber network.
Fiber technology, PON, EPON, GPON
A comparison of two data delivery methods over passive optical networks with GPON 2.5Gb/s offering a better performance then EPON 1Gb/s, however both have the technology for 10Gb/s.
Urban fiber network design
A description of network design elements for optical fiber installations in urban areas.
Rural fiber network design
A description of network design elements for optical fiber installations in rural areas.
Fiber splitting topologies
Passive optical networks require optical splitters to distribute connections to the homes from a central hub. Several different fiber-splitting technologies are presented.
Manage OLT and ONT products
Optical line terminal and optical network terminal products are essential components to build optical fiber networks. Both require software for configuration before they ca be used.
Fiber equipment providers
A review of the optical fiber equipment manufacturers.
3. FTTH ISP management
Managing subscribers
A description of how the ISP software manages the subscribers, including sales and order entry, work order and provisioning, billing and collections, network monitoring and alerting, and finally customer relationship management with the helpdesk.
BNG functionality
The broadband network gateway is the central component in the ISP network. This unit activates subscribers onto the network, enables and disables subscribers according to the billing status, manages the rate plan for each customer, which is the maximum data speed and possible data cap, and finally collects data about the network use. The ISP software controls the BNG.
ISP management functionality
Business processes that implement the ISP delivery and billing of the Internet data services.
ISP cloud management software
High-level view of the software that the ISP uses to manage the business.
Expand the ISP network
Integrated management of multiple fiber network installations.
Expanding a Telco business operation
By integrating the ISP management system with a Telco billing system.
4. Summary: challenges and benefits
The presentation will soon be available on YouTube as part of the ITA on-line information series. Sign up for the ITA newsletter to get informed when the YouTube presentations are available.