Fiber to the x

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"Fiber broadband" redirects here. For the overhead version of data and internet
transmission, see Broadband over power lines.
FTTB, FTTC, FTTD, FTTH, FTTK, FTTN, and FTTP all redirect here. For airports
with those ICAO codes, see List of airports in Chad.

A schematic illustrating how FTTX (Node, Curb, Building, Home) architectures vary with regard to the

distance between the optical fiber and the end user. The building on the left is the central office; the
building on the right is one of the buildings served by the central office. Dotted rectangles represent
separate living or office spaces within the same building.

Fiber to the x (FTTX) (also spelled Fibre to the x) or fiber in the loop is a

generic term for any broadband network architecture using optical fiber to provide
all or part of the local loop used for last mile telecommunications. As fiber optic
cables are able to carry much more data than copper cables, especially over long
distances, copper telephone networks built in the 20th century are being replaced
by fiber.
FTTX is a generalization for several configurations of fiber deployment, arranged
into two groups: FTTP/FTTH/FTTB (Fiber laid all the way to the
premises/home/building) and FTTC/N (fiber laid to the cabinet/node, with copper
wires completing the connection).
 Residential areas already served by balanced pair distribution plant call for a trade-
off between cost and capacity. The closer the fiber head, the higher the cost of
construction and the higher the channel capacity. In places not served by metallic
facilities, little cost is saved by not running fiber to the home.
Fiber to the x is the key method used to drive next-generation access (NGA),
which describes a significant upgrade to the Broadband available by making a step
change in speed and quality of the service. This is typically thought of as
asymmetrical with a download speed of 24 Mbit/s plus and a fast upload speed.
The Definition of UK Superfast Next Generation Broadband [1] OFCOM have defined
NGA as in "Ofcom's March 2010 'Review of the wholesale local access market"
"Super-fast broadband is generally taken to mean broadband products that provide
a maximum download speed that is greater than 24 Mbit/s. This threshold is
commonly considered to be the maximum speed that can be supported on current
generation (copper-based) networks."
A similar network called a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network is used by cable
television operators but is usually not synonymous with "fiber In the loop", although
similar advanced services are provided by the HFC networks. Fixed wireless and
mobile wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3GPP Long Term
Evolution (LTE) are an alternative for providing Internet access.

Contents

 1Definitions
 2Benefits
 3Fiber to the premises
 4Fiber to the curb/cabinet/node
 5Deployments
o 5.1FTTP, FTTS (subscriber)
o 5.2FTTS (screen, seat)
o 5.3FTTS (street)
o 5.4FTTH
o 5.5FTTB
o 5.6FTTN and FTTC
 6Optical distribution networks
o 6.1Direct fiber
o 6.2Shared fiber
o 6.3Active optical network
o 6.4Passive optical network
o 6.5Ethernet point-to-point
o 6.6Electrical network
 7See also
 8References
 9External links
Definitions[edit]
The telecommunications industry differentiates between several distinct FTTX
configurations. The terms in most widespread use today are:

 FTTP (fiber-to-the-premises): This term is used either as a blanket term for

both FTTH and FTTB, or where the fiber network includes both homes and
small businesses
o FTTH (fiber-to-the-home): Fiber reaches the boundary of the living
space, such as a box on the outside wall of a home. Passive optical
networks and point-to-point Ethernet are architectures that are capable of
delivering triple-play services over FTTH networks directly from an
operator's central office.[2][3] Typically providing between 1 and 10 Gbit/s
o FTTB (fiber-to-the-building, -business, or -basement): Fiber reaches
the boundary of the building, such as the basement in a multi-dwelling unit,
with the final connection to the individual living space being made via
alternative means, similar to the curb or pole technologies
o FTTD can mean two different things:
 (fiber-to-the-desktop or -desk): In an office, fiber connection is
installed from the main computer room to a desk or fiber media
converter near the user's desk
 (fiber-to-the-door): Fiber reaches outside the flat
o FTTR can mean two different things:
 (fiber-to-the-radio): Fiber runs to the transceivers of base
stations
 (fiber-to-the-router): Fiber connection is installed from the
router to the ISP's fiber network
o FTTO (fiber-to-the-office): Fiber connection is installed from the main
computer room/core switch to a special mini-switch (called FTTO Switch)
located at the user's workstation or service points. This mini-switch provides
Ethernet services to end user devices via standard twisted pair patch cords.
The switches are located decentrally all over the building, but managed
from one central point
o FTTF can mean five different things:
 (fiber-to-the-factory): fiber runs to factory buildings
 (fiber-to-the-farm): fiber runs to agricultural farms
 (fiber-to-the-feeder): a synonym of FTTN
 (fiber-to-the-floor): fiber reaches a junction box at a floor of a
building
 (fiber-to-the-frontage): This is very similar to FTTB. In a fiber to
the front yard scenario, each fiber node serves a single subscriber. This
allows for multi-gigabit speeds using XG-fast technology. The fiber node
may be reverse-powered by the subscriber modem[4]
o FTTM can mean four different things:
 (fiber-to-the-machine): In a factory, fiber runs to machines
  (fiber-to-the-mast): Fiber runs to wireless masts
 (fiber-to-the-mobile): Fiber runs to base stations
 (fiber-to-the-multi-dwelling-unit): FTTP to apartment buildings
o FTTT can mean two different things:
 (fiber-to-the-terminal): In an office, fiber runs to desktop
equipment
 (fiber-to-the-tower): Fiber reaches base stations
o FTTW (fiber-to-the-wall or -workgroup): In an office, fiber runs to
small switches near a group of users
 FTTA can mean two different things:
o (fiber-to-the-amplifier): Fiber runs to street cabinets
o (fiber-to-the-antenna): Fiber runs up antenna towers
 FTTCS (fiber-to-the-cell-site): fiber reaches the base station site
 FTTE / FTTZ (fiber-to-the-telecom-enclosure or fiber-to-the-zone): is a form
of structured cabling typically used in enterprise local area networks, where
fiber is used to link the main computer equipment room to an enclosure close to
the desk or workstation. FTTE and FTTZ are not considered part of the FTTX
group of technologies, despite the similarity in name. [5]
 FTTdp (Fiber To The Distribution Point): This is very similar to FTTC / FTTN
but is one-step closer again moving the end of the fiber to within meters of the
boundary of the customers premises in last junction possible junction box
known as the "distribution point" this allows for near-gigabit speeds [6]
 FTTL (fiber-to-the-loop): general term
 FTTN / FTTLA (fiber-to-the-node, -neighborhood, or -last-amplifier): Fiber is
terminated in a street cabinet, possibly miles away from the customer
premises, with the final connections being copper. FTTN is often an interim
step toward full FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) and is typically used to deliver
'advanced' triple-play telecommunications services
 FTTC / FTTK (fiber-to-the-curb/kerb, -closet, or -cabinet): This is very similar
to FTTN, but the street cabinet or pole is closer to the user's premises, typically
within 1,000 feet (300 m), within range for high-bandwidth copper technologies
such as wired ethernet or IEEE 1901 power line networking and wireless Wi-
Fi technology. FTTC is occasionally ambiguously called FTTP (fiber-to-the-
pole), leading to confusion with the distinct fiber-to-the-premises system.
Typically providing up to 100 Mbit/s
 FTTS can mean three different things:
o (fiber-to-the-screen or -seat): On an airplane, fiber reaches
the IFE screens
o (fiber-to-the-street): The customer is connected using copper to the
fiber passing near the building, up to 200 metres (660 ft) away. This is a
compromise between FTTB and FTTC. Typically providing up to 500 Mbit/s
o (fiber-to-the-subscriber): This is a synonym for FTTP
To promote consistency, especially when comparing FTTH penetration rates
between countries, the three FTTH Councils of Europe, North America, and Asia-
Pacific agreed upon definitions for FTTH and FTTB in 2006, [7] with an update in
2009,[8] 2011[9] and another in 2015.[10] The FTTH Councils do not have formal
definitions for FTTC and FTTN.

Benefits[edit]
While fiber optic cables can carry data at high speeds over long distances, copper
cables used in traditional telephone lines and ADSL cannot. For example, the
common form of Gigabit Ethernet (1Gbit/s) runs over relatively
economical category 5e, category 6 or augmented category 6 unshielded twisted-
pair copper cabling but only to 100 m (330 ft). However, 1 Gbit/s Ethernet over
fiber can easily reach tens of kilometers. Therefore, FTTP has been selected by
every major communications provider in the world to carry data over long 1 Gbit/s
symmetrical connections directly to consumer homes. FTTP configurations that
bring fiber directly into the building can offer the highest speeds since the
remaining segments can use standard Ethernet or coaxial cable.
Fiber is often said to be "future-proof" because the data rate of the connection is
usually limited by the terminal equipment rather than the fiber, permitting
substantial speed improvements by equipment upgrades before the fiber itself
must be upgraded. Still, the type and length of employed fibers chosen, e.g.
multimode vs. single-mode, are critical for applicability for future connections of
over 1 Gbit/s.
With the rising popularity of high-definition, on-demand video
streaming applications and devices such as YouTube, Netflix, Roku, and Facebook
LIVE, the demand for reliable bandwidth is crucial as more and more people begin
to utilize these services.[11]
FTTC (where fiber transitions to copper in a street cabinet) is generally too far from
the users for standard ethernet configurations over existing copper cabling. They
generally use very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) at downstream rates
of 80 Mbit/s, but this falls extremely quickly over a distance of 100 meters.

Fiber to the premises[edit]

Fiber to the premises (FTTP) is a form of fiber-optic communication delivery, in
which an optical fiber is run in an optical distribution network from the central office
all the way to the premises occupied by the subscriber. The term "FTTP" has
become ambiguous and may also refer to FTTC where the fiber terminates at
a utility pole without reaching the premises.
Fiber-optic cable being pulled underneath NYC's streets

Fiber to the premises can be categorized according to where the optical fiber ends:

 FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) is a form of fiber-optic communication delivery that

reaches one living or working space. The fiber extends from the central office to
the subscriber's living or working space.[9] Once at the subscriber's living or
working space, the signal may be conveyed throughout the space using any
means, including twisted pair, coaxial cable, wireless, power line
communication, or optical fiber.
 FTTB (fiber-to-the-building or -basement) is a form of fiber-optic
communication delivery that necessarily applies only to those properties that
contain multiple living or working spaces. The optical fiber terminates before
actually reaching the subscribers living or working space itself, but does extend
to the property containing that living or working space. The signal is conveyed
the final distance using any non-optical means, including twisted pair, coaxial
cable, wireless, or power line communication.[9]
An apartment building may provide an example of the distinction between FTTH
and FTTB. If a fiber is run to a panel inside each subscriber's apartment unit, it is
FTTH. If instead, the fiber goes only as far as the apartment building's
shared electrical room (either only to the ground floor or to each floor), it is FTTB.

Fiber to the curb/cabinet/node[edit]

The inside of a fiber cabinet. The left side contains the fiber, and the right side contains the copper.

Fiber to the curb/cabinet (FTTC) is a telecommunications system based on fiber-

optic cables run to a platform that serves several customers. Each of these
customers has a connection to this platform via coaxial cable or twisted pair. The
"curb" is an abstraction and can just as easily mean a pole-mounted device or
communications closet or shed. Typically any system terminating fiber within
1,000 ft (300 m) of the customer premises equipment would be described as
FTTC.
Fiber to the node or neighborhood (FTTN), sometimes identified with and
sometimes distinguished from fiber to the cabinet (FTTC), [12] is a telecommunication
architecture based on fiber-optic cables run to a cabinet serving a neighborhood.
Customers typically connect to this cabinet using traditional coaxial cable or twisted
pair wiring. The area served by the cabinet is usually less than one mile in radius
and can contain several hundred customers. (If the cabinet serves an area of less
than 1,000 ft (300 m) in radius, the architecture is typically called FTTC/FTTK.) [13]
FTTN allows delivery of broadband services such as high-speed internet. High-
speed communications protocols such as broadband cable access
(typically DOCSIS) or some form of digital subscriber line (DSL) are used between
the cabinet and the customers. Data rates vary according to the exact protocol
used and according to how close the customer is to the cabinet.
Unlike FTTP, FTTN often uses existing coaxial or twisted-pair infrastructure to
provide last mile service and is thus less costly to deploy. In the long term,
however, its bandwidth potential is limited relative to implementations that bring the
fiber still closer to the subscriber.
A variant of this technique for cable television providers is used in a hybrid fiber-
coaxial (HFC) system. It is sometimes given the acronym FTTLA (fiber-to-the-last-
amplifier) when it replaces analog amplifiers up to the last one before the customer
(or neighborhood of customers).
FTTC allows delivery of broadband services such as high-speed internet. Usually,
existing wire is used with communications protocols such as broadband cable
access (typically DOCSIS) or some form of DSL connecting the curb/cabinet and
the customers. In these protocols, the data rates vary according to the exact
protocol used and according to how close the customer is to the cabinet.
Where it is feasible to run new cable, both fiber and copper ethernet are capable of
connecting the "curb" with a full 100Mbit/s or 1Gbit/s connection. Even using
relatively cheap outdoor category 5 copper over thousands of feet,
all ethernet protocols including power over Ethernet (PoE) are supported[citation needed].
Most fixed wireless technologies rely on PoE, including Motorola Canopy, which
has low-power radios capable of running on a 12VDC power supply fed over
several hundred feet of cable.
Power line networking deployments also rely on FTTC. Using the IEEE
P1901 protocol (or its predecessor HomePlug AV) existing electric service cables
move up to 1Gbit/s from the curb/pole/cabinet into every AC electrical outlet in the
home—coverage equivalent to a robust Wi-Fi implementation, with the added
advantage of a single cable for power and data.
By avoiding new cable and its cost and liabilities, FTTC costs less to deploy.
However, it also has historically had lower bandwidth potential than FTTP. In
practice, the relative advantage of fiber depends on the bandwidth available
for backhaul, usage-based billing restrictions that prevent full use of last-mile
capabilities, and customer premises equipment and maintenance restrictions, and
the cost of running fiber that can vary widely with geography and building type.
In the United States and Canada, the largest deployment of FTTC was carried out
by BellSouth Telecommunications. With the acquisition of BellSouth by AT&T,
deployment of FTTC will end. Future deployments will be based on either FTTN or
FTTP. Existing FTTC plant may be removed and replaced with FTTP. [14] Verizon,
meanwhile, announced in March 2010 they were winding down Verizon
FiOS expansion, concentrating on completing their network in areas that already
had FiOS franchises but were not deploying to new areas, suggesting that FTTH
was uneconomic beyond these areas.
Verizon also announced (at CES 2010) its entry into the smart home and power
utility data management arenas, indicating it was considering using P1901-based
FTTC or some other existing-wire approach to reach into homes, and access
additional revenues from the secure AES-128 bandwidth required for advanced
metering infrastructure. However, the largest 1Gbit/s deployment in the United
States, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, despite being conducted by power utility EPB,
[15]
 was FTTH rather than FTTC, reaching every subscriber in a 600-square-mile
area. Monthly pricing of $350 reflected this generally high cost of deployment.
However, Chattanooga EPB has reduced the monthly pricing to $70/month. [16]
Historically, both telephone and cable companies avoided hybrid networks using
several different modes of transport from their point of presence into customer
premises. The increased competitive cost pressure, availability of three different
existing wire solutions, smart grid deployment requirements (as in Chattanooga),
and better hybrid networking tools (with major vendors like Alcatel-
Lucent and Qualcomm Atheros, and Wi-Fi solutions for edge networks, IEEE
1905 and IEEE 802.21 protocol efforts and SNMP improvements) all make FTTC
deployments more likely in areas uneconomic to serve with FTTP/FTTH. In effect
FTTC serves as a halfway measure between fixed wireless and FTTH, with special
advantages for smart appliances and electric vehicles that rely on PLC use
already.

Deployments[edit]
Operators around the world have been rolling out high-speed Internet access
networks since the mid-2000s. Some used a network topology known as Active
Ethernet Point-to-Point to deliver services from its central office directly into
subscribers' homes. Fiber termination was handled by a residential
gateway provided by Advanced Digital Broadcast inside a subscriber's home to be
shared with other consumer electronics (CE) devices.
Since 2007, Italian access providers Fastweb,[17] Telecom Italia, Vodafone,
and Wind participated in an initiative called Fiber for Italy, with the aim of creating a
countrywide fiber-to-the-home network in Italy. The pilot taking place in the Italian
capital, Rome, has seen symmetrical bandwidth of 100 Mbit/s. [18] Telecom Italia,
which refused to take part in the Fiber for Italy initiative, has an even more
ambitious plan to bring fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-business to 138 cities by
2018.[19]
By the end of December 2010, the total number of fiber-to-the-home enabled
homes had passed 2.5 million, with more than 348,000 subscribers. [19][clarification needed])
In September 2010, the European Commission published a new
"Recommendation for Regulated Access to NGA Networks" along with a list of
measures to promote deployment of fast broadband and next generation
access networks.[20]
Portugal Telecom plans to complete its fiber-to-the-home nationwide roll out by
2020. Currently 200 mbs down, 100mbs up costs 22 euros per month.
Google Fiber provides speed of up to 1 Gbit/s.[21]
Active Line Access is an evolving standard for the provision of services
over FTTP networks in the United Kingdom proposed by the regulator Ofcom and
developed by the Network Interoperability Consultative Committee. [22]
FTTP, FTTS (subscriber)[edit]
Main article: Fiber to the premises by country
Copper telephone networks built in the 20th century are being replaced by FTTP in
most countries.
FTTS (screen, seat)[edit]
Airlines have been deploying such systems on planes.
FTTS (street)[edit]
Swisscom has been deploying FTTS with G.fast aiming to provide a nationwide
basic broadband coverage between 300 and 500 Mbit/s.
FTTH[edit]
Operators typically provide 1 Gbit/s using the best kind of FTTP. 10Gbit/s started
being offered in 2015.
FTTB[edit]
A number of operators have been using this approach, even at gigabit speed.
FTTN and FTTC