FTTx (Fiber To The X) in Indonesia

FTTx (Fiber To The X) Alternative Solution Broadband Access in Indonesia

1. Definition  :

Fiber to the x (FTTx) is generic for broadband network architecture which using optical fiber  to replace whole or part of metal local-loop in the telecommunication last mile. The definition comes from generalization of several spreads configuration (FTTN, FTTC, FTTB, FTTH), all start with FTT but differ in last letter, replace by x for generalization.

Figure 1. Architecture FTTx

Telecommunication industry divided into several configurations, the most currently use:

• FTTN (Fiber-To-The Node) : Fiber terminate in cabinet on the road until few kilometer from the customer premise, while end of connection with copper.

• FTTC (Fiber-To-The-Cabinet) or side of the road : it’s same like FTTN, but cabinet closer from customer premise, usually in 300 m.
• FTTB (Fiber-To-The-Building) or Fiber-to-the-Basement : fiber reach border of the building, like in basement, than distribute to the private room through several alternative.
• FTTH (Fiber-To-The Home) : fiber reach the house, terminate to the box in wall of the customer house.
• FTTP (Fiber-To-Premises) : definition for FTTH and FTTB, or where fiber network cover house and small business.

Growth of Internet connections and the development of IPTV technology, VoIP and others, increasing the need for greater bandwidth. The solution is to use fiber-optic connections to subscriber homes and office buildings, because it can provide a large enough bandwidth.  It is necessary to accelerate the transition from metal to fiber optic cable. Data from ITU-T in Figure 2 shows the growth of FTTH/ B subscribers  in the whole world. This shows the demand for broadband access is increasing every year.

Figure 2. Trend in FTTH/B Subscribers

2. Access Network :

Passive Optical Network (PON) system is one method to provide broadband transmission on the access network. An Optical Line Terminal (OLT) located at Central office and an Optical Network Unit (ONU) at the customer side such as customer homes or buildings. And the optical splitters used to divide the connection into the N connection to the customer premise. Figure 3 shows examples of PON systems

Figure 3. PON System Structure

Trunk cable is  fiber optic connection between the Central Office (CO) to the optical splitter, now widely deployed by network operators. Drop cable is the connection from the optical splitter to the customer premise was held when there is demand from customers. A Drop cable length can be up to 1.6 km, in the metropolitan area of less than 500 m.

3. FTTx Services

FTTx solution helps operator provide broader bandwidth and more services to customers. Triple play service may be integrated from several different networks, it allows customer to get IPTV, access internet, and voice service over fiber optic media. Services that can provide by FTTx technology:

• High speed internet service based on LAN until 100M.
• High speed internet service based on ADSL/VDSL until 100M
• Voice service based on PSTN and soft switch
• TDM service
• IPTV service
• CATV service
• Mobile Backhaul service

4. Faults in FTTx Technology:

Faults that often occurs in FTTX is on the drop cable, the fiber optic between the optical splitter to the ONU, typically fiber break or high loss. The Main auses of these faults listed below:

• Natural Disaster : fiber optic cables that hang on the pole of repeated pressure from storms, earthquakes, heavy rain and other natural disaster, which causes  fiber optic breaks or damage.

• Animal Damage : Attacked by animals, like squirrel, rats, crows, etc., cause damage and fiber breaks.

• Fiber bending in subscriber Households. Sometimes, people  moving the ONU can bend the fiber excessively, causing a break or high loss.

5. Implementation of FTTH in Indonesia

Implementation of fiber optic technology in Indonesia still slow compared with others country like Japan and Malaysia, were already implemented FTTH in their network since couple years ago.

That’s happens because the cost of deployment fiber optic in Indonesia is still high. Further, mobile network penetration in Indonesia is very high. It’s challenge for government and telecommunication industry in Indonesia to stimulate national industry of using local devices and equipments. In this way we hope can minimize the cost have to be paid to deploy fiber optic network in Indonesia.

With all the fiber optic advantages should become solution to increase broadband access in Indonesia, so demand for fast and affordable broadband connection can implement in Indonesia.