What is FTTx access technology (FTTH, FTTB, FTTC). Study of the possibility of using single-fiber fiber mode for data transmission Potential for ftth telecommunications

21.11.2023

Now providers (Internet access service providers) offer several options for wired Internet access. The main technologies for accessing the World Wide Web are ADSL/ADSL2+ and FTTB. How not to get confused in the proposed technologies and choose what you need? This article aims to answer this question. Below we will describe each of the mentioned technologies, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages.

ADSL/ADSL2+ technology

This technology involves transmitting data over regular telephone wires. Because Data transmission occurs in a frequency range different from the frequencies for voice data; transmission of digital data together with voice is possible: i.e. You can talk on the phone and surf the Internet at the same time. To convert information into a form accessible for transmission over telephone wires, a device is used on the subscriber's side - DSL modem, and on the provider’s side, a device called DSLAM is used to reverse convert the information transmitted within the framework of this technology into digital form.

Due to historical circumstances, this technology is “tailored” to transmit data to the subscriber; the transmission speed of the outgoing stream is much lower than the downward one. And this is one of its main disadvantages. For ADSL technology, large providers, such as Rostelecom, MGTS and COMSTAR-Regions (MTS group of companies), offer speeds to the subscriber of up to 8 Mbit/s, and from the subscriber up to 800 kbit/s. In ADSL2+ technology, thanks to improvements, speeds have been increased, but the speed of the outgoing stream also remains low - up to 1 Mbit/s from the subscriber. The speed to the subscriber is up to 24 Mbit/sec.

The quality of communication for this technology largely depends on the quality and length of the telephone line: for example, for the technology, the possibility of providing the service is not guaranteed with a telephone line length of more than 5 kilometers, and with a length of 4 to 5 kilometers the maximum speed at which communication can be established An ADSL modem with provider station equipment (DSLAM) cannot exceed 2 megabits per second to the subscriber.

Despite the many disadvantages, this technology also has its advantages. These include the absence of the need to run a separate cable into the house if there is a landline telephone, provided that the telephone line is of sufficient quality and there are no errors in the connection circuit of the modem to the telephone socket - extremely high stability and reliability of the connection, many times greater than that which is achievable when connecting via more advanced FTTB technology.

Reliability is associated with the high fault tolerance of DSLAM, as well as the mandatory presence of guaranteed high-capacity power supply at the PBX (on which the provider’s DSLAM is located), which makes the operation of the Internet independent of the presence or absence of light at the point where the provider’s equipment is located. Also, an undoubted advantage of the ADSL family of technologies is the ability to connect to the Internet in private homes.

FTTB technology

FTTB technology stands for “Fiber-To-The-Building”(“Optics to the home”), and means that the provider supplies a fiber optic cable to an apartment building, which then goes into a switch (managed switch) - a device that “divides” the Internet among individual users. As a rule, the switch is installed in the entrance or in the attic, and a regular twisted pair cable (Ethernet cable used in office local networks) goes from it to subscribers.

Depending on the implementation of the technology, the Internet access speed can be up to 10 or 100 Mbit per second. In this case, the throughput speed of the fiber optic channel to the switch can be from 1 to 10 Gbit per second. This technology is now used by a huge number of providers, both small and very large, such as Beeline, Rostelecom, TTK, COMSTAR-Regions (MTS group of companies).

The qualitative difference between this technology and ADSL technologies is a symmetrical channel, i.e. the upload and reception speeds are equal, which is a big plus for those users who download torrents, upload large files to servers, or have their own website. Also, the advantages of FTTB include the absence of the need for additional equipment - to work, you just need to insert the provider’s cable into the network card of your computer or laptop (you may also need to create a connection).

The main disadvantage of FTTB is the relative low reliability and dependence of the speed of Internet access on the number of users connected to this switch: with a large number of subscribers, the bandwidth of the fiber optic channel supplied to the home switch may not be enough and it will be necessary to expand its capacity, which is not always done on time . The low reliability of FTTB is associated with the low fault tolerance of switches (usually due to the cheapness of the devices used), as well as the fact that they are usually not equipped with uninterruptible power supplies and at the slightest power outage at the point, users are left without the Internet. Another disadvantage is that FTTB technology is not available to users living in private homes.

If you doubt your ability to set up the Internet, ask for help! HELP - always helps!

FTTx technology from Rostelecom is one of the fastest and most reliable means for accessing the Internet. This connection is ideal for large companies that need a stable network connection to support digital telephony, send and receive large amounts of data, such as video recordings, and many other corporate tasks. Rostelecom's FTTx technology is also not abandoned by individuals who want to get maximum opportunities and pleasure when using home boarding and interactive television, which has been gaining increasing popularity lately.

Rostelecom FTTx technology – what is it?

FTTx is one of the most promising Internet technologies that is being very actively developed by Rostelecom in large cities and beyond. The abbreviation stands for Fiber To The x, where x is any point, that is, your apartment, country house or office. In the Russian-speaking market, the technology often has a simplified name “”.

FTTx represents the general name of the technology line:

FTTH (Fiber To The Home) - optical fiber is supplied directly to your home/apartment;
FTTB (Fiber To The Building) - optical fiber reaches the building, and is then distributed to apartments using other technologies (Ethernet);
FTTN (Fiber to the Node) – the fiber optic signal is distributed at the network node.
FTTD (Fiber to the desktop) - the signal goes directly to the network user’s room (it is also called FTTS, where the last letter stands for Subscriber or subscriber in Russian).

What equipment is needed for FTTx Rostelecom

The Rostelecom provider in most cases installs FTTx equipment at nodes or in buildings, and then distributes the signal using switches via Ethernet technology. This option allows you to significantly reduce costs for the subscriber, but at the same time get a high connection speed. The FFTx line is capable of delivering multi-gigabit bandwidth and can thus provide every home user with a stable 100 Mbps connection. The positive side of this option, in addition to high speed and low cost, will also be the absence of the need to install special equipment in your apartment.

The subscriber can easily start using the Internet by connecting the cord to the computer’s network card, or using a router to distribute the connection to several devices. In this case, the choice of router must be made based on its speed characteristics and the planned number of network devices. If you have computers and consoles (TV or game consoles) in your apartment that can be connected via an Ethernet cable, as well as devices that use Wi-Fi technology, you will need to purchase a router with wired routing capability and a built-in wireless access point. Such a device will allow you to organize a convenient home network based on FTTx technology from Rostelecom without complex configuration of a router and other equipment.

In cases where optical fiber is supplied directly to your apartment (FTTH), you will need to purchase a special modem that will allow you to decode the signal and transmit it to the Ehernet output. Further, the setup scheme will remain the same. When connecting fiber optics directly to the apartment, you can pay attention to modems, which immediately act as routers. This will free up space by getting rid of unnecessary network devices.

Setting up an Internet connection using FTTx technology

Depending on the type of FTTx, the connection setup from Rostelecom will be slightly different. In the case of FTTB, you will only need to order the service from the provider and rent or buy a router suitable for you.

When using, you will also need to have a fiber optic modem for setup. Usually, when laying the cable, the provider’s employees will install and configure the equipment themselves. It will be difficult to connect to a fiber-optic network without the help of a specialist, if only because crimping the laid cables can only be done with special equipment.

Thus, setting up FTTx connections from Rostelecom will differ significantly depending on the subtype and, of course, the equipment used.

Attention! Fiber optic modems are very expensive, so when connecting to FTTx Internet, the provider often offers equipment for rent or credit.

FTTx technology from Rostelecom is very new and promising. Its use is already actively underway in large cities and beyond. The process for connecting to fiber optic internet may vary depending on the subtype of technology.

The FTTx family includes different types of architectures:

FTTN (Fiber to the Node)- fiber to the network node;
FTTC (Fiber to the Curb)- fiber to a microdistrict, block or group of houses;
FTTB (Fiber to the Building)- fiber to the building;
FTTH (Fiber to the Home)- fiber to the home (apartment or separate cottage).

They differ mainly in how close the optical cable is to the user terminal.

At the moment, interest in the deployment of optical access networks with cable laying to the building (FTTB), as well as directly to the subscriber (FTTH), is rapidly growing. To a greater extent, this situation is explained by the constant increase in requirements for communication channel bandwidth, since there is now a boom in the development of “heavy” Internet applications, including online video, 3D online video, online games and other services.

At the same time, the planned set of services and the bandwidth required to provide it have a direct impact on the choice of FTTx technology. Therefore, the higher the access speed and the larger the range of services provided to the subscriber, the closer the optical fiber should approach the subscriber terminal, i.e. you need to use FTTH technologies. In cases where the priority is to preserve the existing network infrastructure and equipment, FTTB is the optimal choice.

If we talk about today's realities, FTTB architecture prevails in new buildings and among large telecom operators, while FTTH is in demand in new low-rise construction (for example, in cottage communities in the vicinity of large cities).

FTTN architecture

FTTN is used mainly as a low-cost and quickly implemented solution where there is a distribution "copper" infrastructure and the installation of optics is unprofitable. Everyone knows the difficulties associated with this solution: the low quality of the services provided, due to the specific problems of copper cables lying in the sewer, a significant limitation on the speed and number of connections in one cable.

FTTC architecture

FTTC is an improved version of FTTN, devoid of some of the disadvantages inherent in the latter. The FTTC architecture is primarily intended for operators already using xDSL or PON technologies and cable television operators: the implementation of this architecture will allow them to increase both the number of served users and the bandwidth allocated to each of them at a lower cost. In Russia, this type of connection is often used by small Ethernet network operators. This is due to the lower cost of copper solutions and the fact that installation of optical cable requires highly qualified performers.

FTTB architecture

The FTTB architecture has become most widespread, since when building FTTx networks based on Ethernet, this is often the only technically possible network construction scheme. In addition, in the cost structure of creating an Ethernet network, the difference between the FTTC and FTTB options is relatively small. Also, we should not forget that the operating costs of operating a FTTB network are lower and the throughput is higher.

FTTH architecture

The FTTH access option is the most expensive, but at the same time the most promising, among all FTTx access types.

At first glance, building an FTTH network is a very labor-intensive and therefore expensive process, but experience suggests that the main costs when deploying an FTTH network are construction work, and the cost of the fiber optic cable itself is a relatively small part. This means that if construction work is required, the amount of fiber optic cable installed is no longer of great importance.

Moreover, while the life cycle of an FTTH network and its electronic components is several years, fiber optic cable and optical distribution network have a longer lifespan (at least 30 years).

Deployed FTTH network architectures can be divided into three main categories:

"Ring" of Ethernet switches.
"Star" of Ethernet switches.
"Tree" using PON passive optical network technologies.

Connection to the AzovInternetService and Internet networks is available to private and corporate subscribers using several modern high-speed technologies.

FTTH technology

“Fiber To The Home” - optical fiber to the home (apartment, cottage, office)
Using this technology, a fiber optic cable (FOCL) is laid from the signal source to the end user.
The advantages of FTTH architecture are:

highest channel bandwidth;
a fully standardized and most promising network option;
FTTH solutions provide mass service to subscribers at a distance of up to 20 km from the communication center.

Connection using FTTH technology is made by connecting an optical cable at the end subscriber with the installation of a “media converter” - a device that converts the optical signal into an electrical signal for further distribution throughout the house using copper cable (UTP) or using Wi-Fi. Internet access can be provided at speeds of up to 1000 Mbit/s.

FTTB technology

The AzovInternetService company uses FTTB (Fiber To The Building) technology: an optical cable is supplied to the house and distributed to apartments using a copper Ethernet cable. This makes it possible to provide each apartment with high-quality Internet access at a maximum speed of up to 100 Mbit/s. Depending on the connection technology, the IP address can be external or internal. Today, FTTB technology is the most advanced. Its potential allows you to quickly increase network capacity in those places where it is needed to provide the highest quality data services. Additionally, FTTB ensures the same speed for data going in and out of the computer, unlike other technologies.

With the FTTB option, optical fiber is brought into the home, usually in the basement or attic (which is more cost-effective) and connected to an ONU (Optical Network Unit). On the telecom operator's side, an OLT (Optical Line Terminal) optical line terminal is installed. The OLT is the primary device and determines the parameters of traffic exchange (for example, time intervals for signal reception/transmission) with ONU subscriber devices (or ONT, in the case of FTTH). Further distribution of the network throughout the house occurs via twisted pair cable.

This approach is advisable to use in the case of network deployment in apartment buildings and middle-class business centers. Russian telecom operators are currently deploying FTTB networks only in large cities, but in the future this technology will be used everywhere. With FTTB there is no need to lay expensive optical cable with a large number of fibers, as with FTTH.

GPON technology

PON (passive optical networks) is a family of rapidly developing, most promising technologies for broadband multiservice access over optical fiber. The essence of PON technology follows from its name and lies in the fact that its distribution network is built without the use of active components: the branching of the optical signal in a single-fiber optical communication line is carried out using passive optical power splitters - splitters.

Structurally, any passive optical network consists of three main elements - the OLT station terminal, passive optical splitters and the ONT subscriber terminal. The OLT terminal ensures interaction of the PON network with external networks, splitters provide branching of the optical signal in the PON section, and the ONT has the necessary interfaces for interaction on the subscriber side.

Based on the PON architecture, solutions using a point-to-multipoint logical topology are possible. An entire fiber-optic segment of a tree-like architecture, covering dozens of subscribers, can be connected to one port of the central node. In this case, passive optical splitters (splitters) are installed in intermediate nodes of the tree and do not require power or maintenance.

The main idea of the PON architecture is the use of just one transceiver module in the OLT to transmit information to multiple ONT subscriber devices and receive information from them.
GEPON technology (Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network) is one of the varieties of PON passive optical network technology and one of the most modern options for constructing communication networks, providing high speed information transfer (up to 1.2 Gbit/s). The main advantage of GEPON technology is that it allows optimal use of the fiber-optic resource of the cable. For example, to connect 64 subscribers within a radius of 20 km, it is enough to use only one fiber-optic segment.

The main advantages of GEPON are:

Using standard 802.3ah mechanisms, which will significantly reduce the cost of equipment in the future;
Increasing the transmission speed to 1 Gbit/s in both directions and providing more broadband services;
Providing QoS using 802.1p/TOS mechanisms. It is possible to use strict traffic prioritization mechanisms using eight dedicated queues for each type of traffic. These mechanisms make it possible to provide services such as VoIP or VoD with a guarantee of quality;
Possibility of connecting 64 subscriber devices per PON branch and efficient use of optical fiber;
Full support for DBA (Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation) - a mechanism for dynamic redistribution of bandwidth in accordance with subscriber requests and the availability of free bandwidth in the PON tree. Thus, subscribers who are provided with a guaranteed bandwidth for data transmission, for example, 1Mb/s, can receive real speeds of up to 1Gb/s if the PON tree strip remains partially unused (similar to UBR traffic in ATM);
Support for streaming video (IGMP Snooping);
Easy to install and maintain.

A modern office is unthinkable without a computer. The number of home users is also steadily increasing. All this leads to a serious increase in demand for data transmission services: Internet access, dedicated channels, virtual networks, etc. The most promising Internet technology, one might say, the technology of tomorrow, is fiber-optic networks, the contours of whose development are emerging today. We are talking about FTTx technology, the development of which is already on the agenda, which is a common name for two types of access - Fiber To The Home (FTTH) and Fiber To The Building (FTTB); means an apartment building or office).

FTTx technology family

The FTTx family today includes several different subspecies:

FTTN(Fiber to the Node) - optics to a network node (usually a city or regional station or communication center);
FTTC(Fiber to the Curb) - optical fiber to a microdistrict, block or group of houses (this type of access technology is used for the construction of communication substations - the so-called extensions);
FTTB(Fiber to the Building) - fiber to the building (since the mid-2000s, all multi-storey and apartment buildings have been connected using this technology);
FTTH(Fiber to the Home) - optical fiber to the home (the most recent and progressive of architectures, which is just gaining momentum. Fiber is delivered directly to an apartment or private house).
In simple words, these subtypes differ essentially in how close the provider’s optical fiber comes to the user of the communication channel.

The most popular technology is FTTB

Modern Internet access technology - FTTB- stands for “Fiber to the Building”, that is, translated into Russian: “optical cable to the house, building”. The concept of FTTB describes a general approach to organizing cable infrastructure on an access network. According to it, an optical cable runs from the central hub of the telecom operator to a certain object (usually an apartment building or office building). It is included in a multiport switch. Well, then there is wiring to the subscriber using a regular copper twisted pair cable. At the time of writing, FTTB access technology is many times faster and more reliable compared to modern broadband access technologies, including 3G/4G/LTE. It is also impossible not to note the possibility of upgrading the constructed network to support access speeds of up to 1Gb/s and 10 GB/s by replacing switches and end equipment. In this case, as a rule, there is no need to change the built optical infrastructure and home distribution network. Thanks to the development of FTTB technology, it has become possible to significantly expand the range of services provided to the subscriber, including:

Internet access (at speeds up to 100 Mbit/s);
- IPTV (viewing at least 100 channels MPEG2, MPEG4), HD, VoD);
- VoIP (for a number of users)

FTTB provides both a ring distribution model for switches and a star model, where switches are connected by spokes to aggregators, which allows you to build a high-performance network that is also scalable, flexible, secure and cost-effective.

What does FTTx technology give subscribers?

Reliable and high-quality communication.
The operation of a channel organized using FTTx access technology is not affected by weather conditions, third-party EM interference, there are no breaks and the speed does not drop. If there is no damage to the cable, then at the end you will always receive exactly the speed stated in the tariff.
High speed Internet access. Using the features of FTTx access technology allows ordinary subscribers to use speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, and in some cases up to 1 Gbit/s, and also makes it possible to significantly increase the volume of transmitted information. The connection speed in this case is limited only by the tariff plan and the speed of the local network inside the premises or building.
Symmetrical channel. If you have ever used ADSL access, you know that the speed of the outgoing channel is much lower than the speed of the incoming channel. Sometimes this can be a very critical moment, especially when operating file-sharing networks when transferring large files. A symmetrical FTTx channel provides the same high speed for the outgoing and incoming channels. This feature allows ordinary users to host game and web servers at home.

Connecting several communication services at once via one cable. This is the so-called “Tripple Play”, that is, if you wish, you can connect 3 services to one line at once: Internet, telephony and interactive digital television. At the same time, however, connecting a special access device - a router - is considered a prerequisite. The router must support VLAN separation technology by port (Example: Zyxel Keenetic, D-link DIR-300, Sagemcom 2804, 3804).

What is the advantage of FTTx technology over xDSL technology?

An optical cable has the advantage of allowing you to connect the Internet, telephone and cable TV with just one cable at a time: the bandwidth of the optical cable can easily cope with such a load.

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