Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH)
FTTH is the only technology that meets the growing demand for the "triple play" of services (phone, data, and video, including IPTV and then new DIRECTV® MFH3 video and data stream). With the advent of interactive HDTV, individual subscriber data rate requirements will be 20 to 25 Mb/s. Even with video compression, data rate requirements of 8 to 16 Mb/s exceed what is available from coaxial cable or DSL (digital subscriber line). Although other technologies utilize fiber from the head end or central office to a remote distribution point, they use copper wire in the form of copper conductor pairs (telephone/DSL) or coaxial cable (cable) in the final leg which limits the available bandwidth.
In private residential communities, point-to-point FTTH networks provide an individual fiber for each subscriber and offer both security and unparalleled bandwidth. The only active components are in the head end and at the customer's location. Since the fiber itself has nearly unlimited bandwidth capability (compared to the data rates in use), future system upgrades that enhance data throughput will not involve the fiber optic cable.
FTTH means you can offer subscribers crystal clear telephone service, blazing fast internet service, and a vast selection of TV (including HDTV), movies and music. When this data stream reaches the home, the data is pure Ethernet; no DSL or cable modems are required.
Advantages of FTTH
- Fiber optic signals travel long distances without degradation. In comparison, coaxial cable requires frequent repeaters, and although telephone wires can go long distances, they have very low bandwidth capability.
- Fiber optic cables are small. A typical fiber optic cable with 200 fibers is about the same diameter as standard coaxial cable used in cable TV systems.
- Upgrades to improve system capability only involve the electronics at the ends of the fiber - replacing the cable is not necessary because of the inherent bandwidth capacity of the fiber itself.
- Fiber optic signals are immune to crosstalk, corrosion and external surges and interference. Corrosion in copper wire and coaxial cable can cause noise and loss of signal; lightning storms can affect copper wire and coaxial cable systems by damaging system electronics and repeaters miles away from the strike.
- Fiber provides security from intrusion or external monitoring of signals.
- Homeowners demand high technology systems and properties with FTTH provide more value
