FTTx

FTTx

From:admin 2011-11-24

Fiber to the x (FTTx) is a generic term for any broadband network architecture that uses optical fiber to replace all or part of the usual metal local loop used for last mile telecommunications. The generic term originated as a generalization of several configurations of fiber deployment (FTTN, FTTC, FTTB, FTTH...), all starting by FTT but differentiated by the last letter, which is substituted by an x in the generalization.

 

FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) is a new access technology utilizing an optical network architecture optimized for simple, economical delivery of telephony, packet data and video to the home via a single bi-directional fiber optic strand. This will enable towns to facilitate the delivery of current and future video, voice and data services, and is an all-optical alternative to the traditional copper-based feeder, distribution and drop portions of a residential access network .

 

A description of the PON-based broadband access network technology that uses fiber optics running all the way from the Internet backbone to the home or premises. Some times other acronyms, FTTx, FTTP, or FTTB are used, but these are essentially interchangeable. FTTH is becoming the catch-all descriptor for all fiber to the home, premises, business and "x" technologies.

 

The leading FTTH technology is PON or Passive Optical Network technology. A typical FTTH solution should contain all the supporting facilities and cables as showed in the figure below:

 

                                                The fiber based network infrastructure between central office and the home

 

At the central office, the termination point is in PON optical line terminal (OLT) equipment. At the customer premises, the termination point is in optical network terminals or ONTs also called optical network units or ONUs. These are in the customer premises equipment, or CPE. Between the OLT and the ONT/ONUs is the passive optical network comprising fiber links and passive splitters and couplers.