FTTH / FTTP (fiber to the home / fiber to the premises)
An approach to the last-mile problem of giving residences high-speed broadband access to digital services and Internet access.
Instead of using such technologies as copper-based DSL, FTTH systems involve the installation of optical fiber from homes to a central point. The technology promises speeds of up to 100M bit/sec and can bring high-speed service to homes at a greater distance from a central switch than DSL (6.2 to 49.6 miles, as opposed to a few thousand feet for DSL).
However, FTTH systems can also cost considerably more than DSL or existing cable services, since they typically require the installation of an entirely new set of connections to individual homes - although some networks do sit on a mix of fiber-optic and coaxial cable.
Since the advent of FTTH technology, the question has been how to bring it to existing communities. Who's going to pay for it? Does the expense justify the benefit? Will residents subscribe? A handful of municipal governments are finding out first-hand as they embark on ambitious fiber-optic projects. Many of the areas that see the most benefit are remote, are ill-served by incumbent cable and telephone providers, and have trouble attracting employers. FTTH projects are cropping up in Colorado, Utah and Washington state.
From Fiber to the home market in gear, Network World, 10/28/02.
Additional resources
FTTH Council
Industry group.
Slides from the FTTH 2002 Conference
UTOPIA
FTTH network in Utah.
PON Forum
Passive optical networks are a possible technology for FTTH.
Comments:
Deployment of FTTH
by S.C.SHARMA
FTTH/FTTP Deployment in countries like Saudi Arabia would be faster, since there is a strong demand for Fast Broadband Solution with Business and Home subscribers. Moreover the country do have financial resources earned from growing Mobile Networks ( 3G in pipeline )to divert it to building of FTTH Networks. So FTTP/FTTH might be coming sooner than later; while DSL surviving in parallel.
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