Why Fiber?

We have entered a time where the amount of bandwidth users want for Internet services is nearly insatiable. Even just five years ago, a dial-up modem delivering close to 56 kbps was an acceptable connection. Today end-users find acceptability in the range of 1 Mbps and 3 Mbps. Thats nearly 35 times the bandwidth that was acceptable in 2000. Now, jump ahead 10 years; if this growth continues, a subscriber will demand between 35 and 70 Mbps by 2010. Clearly, subscriber appetites are driven by evolution and advancement of broadband applications. Internet-savvy users are now active participants.
in the on-line experience. They transfer high-resolution digital photos, serve content to friends, participate in interactive, graphics-intensive gaming, and often have more than one PC connected to their home networks. Soon, users will demand higher upload speeds, similar to that which they experience on downloads. And we havent even begun to consider future applications! Todays service providers face hungry end-users and cable and/or satellite competitors who intend to satiate them. Telcos have the choice to engage in the feeding frenzy or, quite simply, be eaten. What are the options for delivering that bandwidth? As we said before, convergence (with its real definition, thank you) is the coming together of disparate networks. Today, as the industry propels itself toward a single, unified network, the very harsh reality is that service providers are still dealing with the realities of a mixed grouping of network architectures. These three varied architectures make for a very interesting OSP: 1. The legacy plant utilizing ADSL2/2+ and/or VDSL to deliver up to 12 megabits. 2. The SBC model of FTTN where fiber is brought to about 3,000 feet but copper capabilities are relied on to the customer premises. 3. The Verizon, FTTP model as an optimal choice for new builds and MDUs. For those applications, the cost of FTTP is similar to copper. Converging these networks is both the promise and the problem for providers today.

The following is a partial list of advantages in using optical fiber systems: Higher Bandwidth Capacity Resistance to Outside Interference Longer Reach Lower Maintenance Costs Longer Life Better Reliability

The Next Generation Network Simply put, to meet the demands of current and future applications, it is imperative that broadband access networks be able to provide the necessary bandwidth. Optical fiber provides the only true solution for existing and future requirements. With optical fiber technologies, bandwidth demands are satisfied, bringing the communications infrastructure more powerful tools that can interface directly with homes, businesses, offices, community centers and government agencies. Optical fiber technology provides a higher capacity data transfer at very high speeds, enabling the community or service provider to supply a wide range services and applications, such as High Definition TV (HDTV), Video on Demand (VoD) and high-speed data all while providing the basic fundamentals of voice connectivity. Broadband access equipment providers are able to offer technology

advances through the converged services of triple-play features using network aggregation and subtending in combination with Passive Optical Network (PON) technology. A PON is made up of fiber optic cabling and passive splitters and couplers that distribute an optical signal through a branched tree topology to connectors that terminate each fiber segment.

Fiber - To - The - Home Fiber - To - The - Home is the ideal Fiber Optics architecture. In this architecture , fiber deployment is carried all the way to the customers home. So , this technology allows Telephone , Cable TV , High speed Internet to be accessed via one fiber cable. How FTTH Works ? In the FTTH system , equipment at the Head - end is interfaced into the PSTN. Video services enter the system from the Cable Television (CATV) head end or from a satellite feed. For Internet , the Data feed is provided by the ISP. All these signals are combined onto a single fiber using the WDM techniques and transmitted to the end users via a passive optical splitter. At the home , optical signal is converted into electrical signal using optical electrical converter(OEC). This OEC splits the signal into the respective ports. Why FTTH ? Over the last few years access line speeds have continued to advance due to the growth of ADSL service. However , since ADSL suffers from limited transmission speed and distance because it uses conventional metallic cables , optical fiber access is expected to become the default access system in the future. FTTH systems have unlimited bandwidth capability, very high transmission speeds and are not limited by geographical distance. Advantages of FTTH No active components between the Head - end and the user thereby minimizing the network maintenance cost.

 Local battery back - up and low power consumption. Reliable , scalable and secure. Supplies a single fiber to the end user , giving the customer a huge communication pipe to provide revenue generating services.
optical fiber architectures can be considered, which include: Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Fiber-to-the-Business (FTTB) Fiber-to-the-Curb (FTTC) Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) These architectures can all be grouped under the category Fiber-tothex (FTTX).

Fiber-To-The-Premises (FTTP), though an evolving technology, is not new. Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) has been available for about 10 years, and FTTP is viewed as the next logical step in the evolution of the access network. In an FTTP architecture, an optical fiber is deployed all the way to the customers premises or location; either to the residence (FTTH - Fiber To The Home) or to a business (FTTB - Fiber To The Business). A Network Interface Device (NID) is located at the customer premises in the form of an Optical Network Termination (ONT), or Optical Network Unit (ONU). The ONT/ONU terminates the optical access network providing direct connectivity to feature-rich services. FTTX is also discussed in the context of deployment scenarios such as greenfield, overbuild, and rehabilitation, as well as hybrids of the three. In the early years, the high cost of building an all optical network limited deployments to new build or greenfield areas. Just as infrastructure costs have decreased, and bandwidth needs have increased, communities and service providers are now recognizing the alternative solution to overbuild their networks with optical fiber. The initial investment required for optical fiber deployments is still fairly high and may require a proven return on a particular business case. A phase-by-phase approach is an alternative where the optical fiber access starts with a Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) type of deployment. In FTTN configurations, an optical link is deployed to the ONU in a Service Area Interface (SAI) cabinet located near a residential community, subdivision or business setting. The ONU will convert the optical signal into an electrical signal where the services are easily transferred to existing copper facilities. Due to the shorter reach of the copper infrastructure, service providers are able to offer higher bandwidth services without having to place the optical fiber directly to the premises. Future FTTP configuration upgrades can be economically justified, as a natural second phase, service requirements grow.

Greenfield The ultimate FTTP deployment is the greenfield scenario in newly built areas where there is no existing broadband infrastructure and no constrictions exist. In new neighborhoods and planned communities, the application of FTTP is easy to justify as initial overheads are quickly repaid; the difference in infrastructure costs for fiber and copper is negligible, and construction costs are equivalent. Fiber greatly reduces future

maintenance costs for the physical plant, thus it makes sense to deploy fiber to residences and businesses in greenfield applications. Greenfield customers include: Single-Family Units (SFU) Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU) Small Business Units (SBU) Small/Medium Business Multi-Tenant Units (MTU) Because of the nature of these new developments, a relatively high takerate for second phone lines, data, and video services can be assumed, creating higher revenues and lowering the cost of deployment. Furthermore, due to the dense populations of FTTP customers in greenfield applications, fiber can be cost-effectively run all the way from the Central Office (CO) to the Local Convergence Point (LCP), where the first passive split can be made. Overbuild The full overbuild scenario is an FTTP application. Where market demand for advanced data and video services exists in serviced neighborhoods, it may be desirable to deploy fiber along with the existing copper network. The following factors can contribute to a decision to overbuild an existing plant: Aging infrastructure High projected take-rates Competitive pressures Requirement for higher bandwidths than available with the current copper technologies. The objective of the full overbuild with fiber is to gradually transition all customers to the FTTP system, while concurrently, retiring the aging copper plant and the active infrastructure such as Digital Loop Carrier (DLC).

Key Benefits Operational cost savings . Increased revenue from a full suite of services . Simplified network operations . Support for long reach from the CO to the user . Cost-effective IPTV and IP convergence .

There are generally five elements that make up the construction of a fiber-optic strand, or cable:
The optic core, Optic cladding, A buffer material, A strength material and

 The outer jacket

The difference in materials used in the making of the core and cladding creates an extremely reflective surface at the point in which they interface. Light pulses entering the fiber core reflect off the core/cladding interface and thus remain within the core as they move down the line. Two basic cable designs are: Loose-Tube Cable (typically are used for outside-plant installation in aerial, duct and direct-buried applications).

Tight-Buffered Cable (used for intra-building, risers, general building and plenum applications)

BASIC DESCRIPTION OF A FTTH NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE An FTTH network will normally form part of an existing access network connecting a large number of end users back to a central point known as an Access Node Each Access Node will contain the required active transmission equipment used to provide the applications and services over optical fiber to the subscriber

FTTH Network Infrastructure Environment City Open Residential Rural Apartment blocks or MDUs can be considered as part of all the above.

The main influences for the fiber infrastructure deployment costs will be determined by: FTTH environment - as described above Size of the FTTH network Initial deployment cost of the infrastructure elements (this is part of the overall Capex costs) Ongoing costs for network operation and maintenance (part of the overall Opex costs) Architecture (PON, P2P,) Type of FTTH area e.g. Greenfield, Brownfield, or Overbuild Local conditions e.g. local labor costs, local authority restrictions (Traffic control) and others The fiber deployment costs can be optimized by using a range of deployment technologies broadly grouped below. These are described in further detail later in this Thesis.

Conventional underground duct and cable Blown microducts and cable Direct buried cable Aerial cable Other Rights of Way solutions

 Conventional underground duct and cable Blown microducts and cable Direct buried cable Aerial cable Other Rights of Way solutions Description of FTTH Infrastructure Network Elements Access Node Feeder Cabling Primary Fibre Concentration Points (FCP) Distribution Cabling Secondary Fibre Concentration points (FCP) Drop Cabling Internal Cabling (subscriber end) Access Node The Access Node, often referred to as the Point of Presence (POP), acts as the starting point for the optical fiber path to the subscribing customer The function of the Access Node is to house all active transmission equipment; manage all fiber terminations and facilitate the interconnection between the optical fibers and the active equipment

Feeder Cabling The feeder cabling runs from the Access Node to the first or primary Fiber Concentration Point (FCP). The feeder cabling may cover a few kilometers distance before termination and will generally consist of larger fiber count cables (100s of fibers) to provide the necessary fiber capacity to serve the FTTH area

 If smaller ducts or sub-ducts are used then the feeder capacity may be shared or grown using a number of smaller size cables e.g. 24 96f cables.

The key Network Infrastructure elements within an Access Node Building are:

Optical Distribution Frames (ODFs) Cable guiding system Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) Climate control Access Node Security (The Access Node should be classed as a secure area. Therefore, provision for fire and intrusion alarm, managed entry/access and mechanical protection against vandal attack must be considered.)

The physical size of the Access Node is ultimately determined by the size and capacity of the FTTH area in terms of subscribers and future upgrades. Separate cabinets and termination shelves may be considered for equipment and individual fiber management to simplify fiber circuit maintenance as well as avoid accidental interference to sensitive fiber circuits.

FTTH ACCESS TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT METHODS: Optical Distribution Frames :

An optical distribution frame (ODF) is the interface between the outside plant cables (outdoor network) and the active transmission equipment Typically these locations are somewhat larger in size and bring together several hundreds to several thousands of fibers. Outdoor cables are generally terminated within an ODF using an optical connector. This normally consists of splicing a connectorised optical fiber pigtail to each individual fiber end Fibers are identified and typically stored in physically separated housings or shelves to simplify fiber circuit maintenance and protect or avoid accidental interference to sensitive fiber circuits.

Optical Splitters Two technologies are common in the world of passive splitters:

 FBT (Fused Biconic Tapered) Planar Splitter or Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC