FTTx Core Products

In today’s increasingly fast-paced, interconnected world, the need for high-speed broadband internet access and reliable wireless service is more acute than ever. The growth of fiber optic networks has allowed service providers to optimize FTTx — fiber-to-the-X, in which X can refer to various subscriber locations, including homes (H, as in FTTH) and buildings (B, as in FTTB) — with the most effective, cost-efficient connectivity and bandwidth capabilities.

Optical fiber solutions guarantee subscribers high-quality transmission of video, voice, and data while providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions for maximum return on investment (ROI). Fiber optics also allow subscribers to make use of recreational technologies such as HDTV, video on demand, and online gaming.

FTTx solutions can enable reliable triple play (video, voice and data) as well as quad play (including mobility services) to support current and next generation applications.

we understand customer pain points from our global experience with global service providers and solve them with innovative solutions. As a worldwide leader in fiber optics, OFS has several decades of experience designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art FTTx solutions passing and connecting millions of subscribers.

In addition to a complete suite of FTTx product solutions, Professional Services, offered in the United States, designs, engineers, and installs turn-key passive FTTx networks to help service providers reach subscribers faster with minimum disruption to décor or landscape.

Optimized Fiber-To-The-x (FTTx), in which x can refer to various subscriber locations (such as homes, apartments, businesses, and cell sites), is more important than ever as demand for high-speed broadband internet access and wireless service steadily rises. As Smart Cities and Smart Power grids are deployed , FTTX Solutions help connect the Internet of Things (IoT) required to enable these advanced systems cost effectively within new and existing right of ways. We provide FTTx solutions that enable reliable triple play (video, voice, and data), as well as quad play (which includes mobility services).

FTTx Lifecycle

FTTx networks bring the combined advantages of higher transmission rates and lower energy consumption. Moving optical fiber closer to the user allows the latest construction, connection and transmission techniques to be leveraged to their fullest extent and diminishes the bottleneck potential of conventional coax. To make this feasible, skillful planning and execution must propagate all lifecycle phases.

 

FTTx Applications

The various options encompassed under the FTTx umbrella each bring advantages and features that make them suitable for specific applications and less appropriate for others. The list of potential configurations is extensive with some becoming increasingly common FTTx architectural solutions.

FTTH

Fiber to the home (FTTH) creates a direct fiber connection to the resident’s junction box, thereby offering the highest possible bandwidth option to individual home subscribers. Since this option can also be expensive to install, it has been more prevalent in areas of new construction. One potential drawback of FTTH is power line placement. Because electrical power cannot be delivered over fiber optic cables, these deployments might require entirely separate power lines to be installed. Despite these challenges, FTTH has become one of the most popular applications worldwide.

FTTA

Fiber to the antenna (FTTA) is a network architecture utilizing fiber optics to distribute the signals from a baseband unit (BBU) to a remote radio head (RRH) near the top of a cell tower. FTTA technology is an essential element of 5G, since massive MIMO translates to more antennas and more cabling. The lower weight and reduced wind resistance makes it a logical replacement for coax cabling in this application. FTTA also allows more flexible placement of the baseband unit, since the fiber optic link to the RRH can potentially span long distances.

FTTB & FTTP

Fiber to the building (FTTB) is similar to FTTH, except the fiber termination is completed somewhere other than a private home. The “B” can also stand for business or basement. A basement termination would typically be found in a multi-tenant dwelling where fiber would feed into a designated electrical room. Fiber to the premises (FTTP) is a blanket designation including FTTH and FTTB. The commonality between all FTTP configurations is fiber travel beyond the property boundary, whether that property is a home, apartment building, small business, or school.

FTTN

Fiber to the node (FTTN) incorporates fiber optic links that terminate at a central node proximal to the businesses or homes of the end users. From the node location, the connection is completed through existing coaxial or copper cable infrastructure. A typical FTTN configuration might serve several hundred customers from a single node position. The node is usually a mile away or less from all customer locations because a longer coax segment can more significantly impact speed.

FTTC

Fiber to the curb (FTTC) is a somewhat misleading acronym since the term “curb” is used to describe an enclosure or pole where the network hardware is installed. Fiber to the curb is similar to FTTN, but fewer customers are served from each location and the coax distances are usually much shorter. This configuration is a useful one since it comes close to providing a direct fiber link yet does not require a fiber connection within the property boundary.