FIBER TO THE X Technologies

Topic 1: Compare it to current technologies

FTTN, POTS, wireless.
XDSL Technology: Today XDSL Technology ranges from 256Kb/s to 40Mbit/s+ downstream and 128Kb/s to 20Mbit/s upstream. This is the most common choice here in the United States for the telecom companies for more advanced speeds.
Cable Docsis 3.0 Technology: (Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial) Is the technology that all Cable companies in US are in the Process of upgrading to. Docsis 3.0 is able to give speeds to users of 343.04 Mbit/s with 8 bonded channels downstream and 122.88 Mbit/s with 4 bonded channels upstream.
FTTX Technology:
FTTH/FTTP/FTTB: Fiber to the Home: (Verizon FIOS)
FTTC: Fiber to the Curb Technology: VDSL/VDSL2 (ATT UVERSE)
FTTN: Fiber to the Node: ADSL/ADSL 2+/Docsis 3.0
FTTH: There are two ways this Technology works, Active Optical Network (AON) and Passive Optical Network (PON) Verizon uses PON for their FIOS has the ability with GPON to provide each customer 622 Mbit/s down and 155 Mbit/s UP. GPON provides 2.4Gbit/s down and 1.2Gbit/s up per 32 user node.
FTTH can carry TV, Phone, and Internet.
Verizon offers a max speed of 150Mbit/s down and 35Mibt/s up.
They are also starting trials with GEPON – Gigabit Ethernet PON: in a trail in a home in Taunton Mass. The Trail provided the ONT or Optical Network Terminator with 10Gbps down and 2.5 Gbp/s up, with 1Gbps NICs on two computers they were able to get real world speeds of 980 Gbp/s up and down from a Verizon speed test server, they then downloaded a 20 GB Blu-ray move in fewer than 3 minutes.

Topic 2: FTTX Costs

In 2004 it cost about $1100 per home past to build a FTTH network, in 2008 the cost had dropped to under $800 dollars per home. During this time the level of Bandwidth offered was increasing twofold. Today it costs Verizon around $670 per home, with the national average around $725.
It currently costs to deploy FTTN/DSL around $300 per user. They may be an over $300 dollar difference in the cost per user, but fiber requires virtually no maintenance, whereas copper requires a lot. We are nearing the full potential of copper wire technology, where fiber has no known limit. This thought has Major Cable and other POTS providers’ preparing for a FTTH transition in the next 25 years.

Topic 3: Future proof

This Technology is future proof because all you have to do to upgrade is swap out the devices on either end and the nodes and you will have unlimited scalability, plus the costs continue to fall.

Topic 4: How it works

This technology works by a Router distributing it to a switch then on to a splitter on the outside plant which splits the laser colors to different fibers and then to passive splitters hence the passive optical network, then down to a device similar to a cable tap. From the tap you get to the premises and the on to the ONT on the outside of your Home. Where the Fiber is changed from light to Ethernet and then goes via Ethernet or coax to the Verizon supplied router where it or your own if that is what you choose to run. They are planning on providing IPTV soon.

Here are a few images about the technology.

FTTH diagram:

The ONT To the interior network:

The ONT:

The Different FTTX Technologies:

Other Information

Verizon has ended their deployments of FIOS to new un-franchised locations, leaving many wondering if the will ever see this amazing technology. Locations include Buffalo, NY, Alexandria, VA, Baltimore, MD, and several others. Cities that currently have franchise agreements will continue to be built-out. Verizon has indefinitely ended the new FIOS deployments. They have shifted a focus to their wireless division to deploy LTE or Long Term Evolution which is delivering 5-12 Mbp/s down and 1-5Mbp/s up. Many suspect Verizon has paused the deployments to push up the subscription rates in their deployed markets. FIOS has been a $22+ billion dollar investment by Verizon and they are looking for a return on their initial investment.
Google has chosen Kansas City to deploy their FTTH network, the are going to be using a PON network architecture. Their plan is to deliver a symmetrical 1Gbp/s connection to the internet. They are talking about providing open access to their network to resellers.
This is the Summary

References:

http://www.ofsoptics.com/press_room/media-pdfs/FTTH-Prism-OFS-03-09.pdf

http://www22.verizon.com/residentialhelp/fiosinternet/general+support/getting+started/questionsone/85268.htm

http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/overview

http://www.dslprime.com/fiber-news/175-d/1902-fiber-cheaper-than-dsl

http://www.pmc-sierra.com/ftth-pon/ftth_overview.html