FTTH

What is FTTH?

Fiber to the Home (FTTH) or Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) is the technology that delivers high-speed Internet access by directly installing and adopting fiber from a central office to residential, apartment, enterprise, and other individual buildings. FTTH significantly improved computer users' connectivity speed compared to other locally used technologies.

How does FTTH Work?

FTTH connects optical fiber directly to residential premises, using fiber for most or all last-mile telecommunications and optical signals to transmit data for higher performance. The basic structure of an FTTH access network is as follows: the fiber optic cable starts at the central office, passes through a fiber distribution hub (FDH), then through a network access point (NAP), and finally enters the home box through a terminal that serves as a connection point.

FTTH Architecture and Components

Active Optical Networks (AON) and Passive Optical Networks (PON) are network systems that allow fiber optic cables to transmit data using light. AON uses electric switching equipment to actively bring signals to specific users. PON guides signals by optical splitters rather than electrical switches, which means PON users only need electrical equipment at the receiving end of the network. Most FTTHs are PON because they have lower installation costs and higher performance. 

PON network topology components include:

Optical Line Terminal (OLT) in the Internet Service provider's central office

Optical Network Unit (ONU) close to the end-user premises

The optical distribution network (ODN) between OLT and ONU is responsible for splitting and distributing signals transmitted along PON. 

The connectivity of OLT and ONU requires optical and non-optical devices and components. The optical components include connectors, couplers, adapters, fiber optic cables, splitters, etc. Non-optical devices include racks, cabinets, enclosures, etc.

What are the Advantages of FTTH?

High Speed: One of the most significant advantages of FTTH is providing super-fast Internet speed. Since optical fiber can transmit data extremely fast, FTTH connectivity can provide faster download and upload speeds than other broadband connection types.

High Reliability: FTTH networks are also known for their high reliability. Since fiber optic cables are made of glass or plastics, they are not susceptible to the influence of interference or degraded performance faced by other types of cables. FTTH connectivity is not likely to be interrupted or slowed down due to weather, network distance, or other causes.

Future-proof: As Internet usage grows by leap, the demand for faster and more reliable connectivity increases constantly. This is where FTTH comes in. Fiber optic cables can transmit data at extremely high speed, and FTTH has the potential to support the wide deployment of future applications and technologies.

What are the Disadvantages of FTTH?

Installation Complexity: It's more challenging to install FTTH than traditional broadband. Fiber optic cable is fragile and must be handled carefully to avoid damage. Also, the provider may need to install new devices (such as a fiber optic modem) to support FTTH broadband, increasing installation complexity.

Compatibility Issue: Legacy devices may encounter FTTH broadband compatibility issues. For instance, some old routers may not be able to handle the high speed provided by FTTH broadband, meaning users need to upgrade the device to make full use of the FTTH technology.

Limited Availability: FTTH is not yet widespread in some areas. ISP must install new fiber optic cables to replace the copper wiring to support FTTH broadband, which is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, many users have no access to FTTH broadband even though they are willing to pay.