PC-101-G
FTTH Design and Network Basics
Mark Boxer
Applications Engineering Manager, OFS
Jeff Bush
Professional Services Manager, OFS
Page 1
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 2
The world is changing
In the past 15 years, weve seen
The Internet
iPods
HDTVs
DVRs
Smartphones (Blackberry, iPhone, etc)
Tablet computers
All of these revolutionary technologies require
more BANDWIDTH (telecommunications capacity)
We must expect and plan for more and faster changes
in the future!
Page 3
Video on all screens - HDTV
Pixel
1080
pixels
An image is built on a screen, pixel by pixel,
One HDTV program = 8-12 Mbps
TV
12 Mbps
1920 pixels
1 house = 48 Mbps
bandwidth, just for video,
today
TV
12 Mbps
TV + DVR
24 Mbps
How about tomorrow?
Page 4
Video Evolution over next 5 10 years
2D Video Format
T
Mature
o
d
a
y Growing Fast
Standard
Definition (SD)
High Definition
(HD)
Mb/s Native
Mb/s (compressed)
per stream H.262 or MPEG- H.264 or
2
MPEG-4
480p
249
1080i/720p
1,493
16
Very High
Definition (VHD)
1080p
2,986
32
16
Super HD
2160p
14,930
100
50
Ultra HD
4320p
59,720
400
200
New Standards
Source: OFS Estimates from Industry Data
* ITU Recommendation J.601, Transport of Large Scale Digital Imagery (LSDI) applications
Page 5
Video Bandwidth Growth Driving Fiber To The Home (FTTH)
Data Rate to Each Home
10,000
Top Tier Data Rate (Mb/s)
1,000
2012 Offers
Fiber:
20 - 1,000 Mbps
No limit!!*
100
Copper
Speed
Limit
10
Digital
1
42% annual growth
Increasing 4 times
every 4 years
0.1
0.01
Analog
Modems
0.001
* Fiber limit is
>50 Tbps
Source: Technology
futures and OFS
Year
0
1980
1990
Text
2000
Pictures
2010
2020
Video HD SHD 3D
Page 6
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 7
Why Fiber?
Greater bandwidth, longer distance, lowest cost per bit
Copper
2400 Pair
Copper
Cable
100 Gbps
to 1 KM
Bandwidth
Distance
Cost per Bit
Fiber
1 Fiber Cable
>50 Tbps
>5000 KM
Bandwidth
Distance
Page 8
Cost per Bit
Why fiber?
Lower cost, higher performance
Metallic cable technologies are approaching
their useful limits
Copper (telephone) and coaxial cables
(Cable TV)
More expensive, less reliable, less
capacity
Feature
Benefit
High bandwidth
High information carrying
capacity
Low attenuation
Long distances without
repeatersless expensive
Light weight
Small size
Easier installations
Unobtrusive
No metallic
conductors
No grounding problems
No crosstalk
Passive
No power requirements
No circuit protection
needed
Difficult to tap
Very secure
Wireless systems have significant capacity
limitations
Fiber optic cable is less expensive than
copper, more reliable and has more capacity Inexpensive
Widely deployable. Cost
effective
Page 9
Why fiber?
FTTH lower operating expenses (OPEX) versus competing technologies
Why? Fewer truck rolls
Remote provisioning though software
Increased reliability vs copper/coax electronics in
field such DSL/HFC
Savings estimates vs DSL/Hybrid Fiber-Coax
FTTH Opex saves $100 to $250 per subscriber vs DSL
or HFC
Page 10
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 11
Wireless Loves Fiber (and vice versa)
Page 12
Flavors of FTTx
Fiber feeds the cell network
Mobile bandwidth demand, driven by smartphones and
video, is growing rapidly
Fiber is needed to and up the tower for 4G networks and
beyond
Fiber has many advantages for cell network operators,
shown below:
Bandwidth
Weight
Tower loading/bracing
Grounding
Installation time
Power losses
Space
Cooling requirements
Page 13
13
Flavors of FTTx
Fiber feeds the Telephone and Cable Networks
Telephone: FTTN Fiber to the Curb/Node
Cable: HFC Hybrid Fiber Coax
Switch or Node
12 - 24 fibers
Central Office OLT
Typical distance range
Twisted Pair or coax
5 to 100 KM
150-1500 m
Fiber to the Node, Copper/coax to the home
Potential 24-100+ Mbps per subscriber (variable based on distance and metal cable quality)
Asymmetric bandwidth (more downstream than upstream)
Page 14
Flavors of FTTx
Fiber feeds the Power Network
Fiber is an integral part of the utility communications network
Substation to substation communications, broad deployment
Equipment within substations, broad deployment
FTTH in limited cases
Smart grid initiatives are changing the nature of power delivery
Nuclear
Renewable
Transmission
Distribution
Smart Meter
--:Information
Micro Grid
--:Power
Page 15
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 16
FTTH Electronics
A typical FTTH network has an Optical Line
Terminal (OLT) or switch at the Headend
or Central Office
Fiber Management
The OLT or switch converts incoming traffic into
laser pulses and sends them down the fiber.
OLT
Unmanaged Switch
ONU
Fiber
Encoder & DVD
And an Optical Network Terminal (ONT), media
converter, or gateway in the home. The ONT
converts the signals from light to electrical signals.
The ONT contains ports to distribute signals on the
existing home wiring (or wirelessly).
The ONT may be either inside or outside the home.
Page 17
Typical FTTH Architectures
PON (Passive Optical Network)
Incorporates a signal divider, such as
an optical power splitter
One fiber at the central office feeds
many fibers in the field
G-PON (Gigabit PON) and GE-PON
(Gigabit Ethernet-PON) are the most
common architectures
Point-to-Point (Active Ethernet)
One fiber in the headend = one
fiber in the field
PON
OLT
Optical power
splitter or wavelength filter
Point to point
Switch
Some equipment will serve both architectures
Page 18
Summary of todays common FTTH architectures
Current
gen
Next
gen
Current
gen
Next
gen
Point to
Point
(Active
Ethernet)
2.4 Gbps
total
10
Gbps
total
1.2 Gbps
total
10
Gbps
total
100 -1000
Mbps per
sub
GPON
Downstream
bandwidth
GE-PON
Upstream
bandwidth
1.2 Gbps
total
10
Gbps
total
1.2 Gbps
total
10
Gbps
total
100 -1000
Mbps per
sub
Typical
distance
20 km
20 km
20 km
20
km
20 km
Wavelengths
(nm),
Downstream/
Upstream)
1490
1310
1577
1270
1550
1310
1577
1270
1550
1310
PON
OLT
Optical power
splitter or wavelength filter
Point to point
Switch
Page 19
l1, l2
l3, l4
WDM PON Networks
Provides a dedicated wavelength (light color) per customer
l15, l16
CO or Head End
WDM
Mux/DeMux
WDM
Mux/DeMux
l1, 3 -15
WDM Mux
/DeMuxs
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
1 fiber per subscriber
WDM
Mux/DeMux
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
WDM
Mux/DeMux
l2, 4, -16
Typical 1 Gb/s up/down dedicated to each subscriber
Longer reach than GPON or GE-PON
Emerging technology
Page 20
FTTB Fiber to the Building (MDUs)
Fiber to a switch or node with many ports to feed multiple
customers
Uses Cat 5 or higher copper wiring or coax to the unit
Typical up to 100 Mb/s connection, limited by copper/coax
bandwidth
Can be either symmetric or asymmetric bandwidth
Sometimes includes fiber to the floor
Typical distance range
Copper or coax
cables
5 to 80 KM
Unit
100 m max
in building
Central Office or
Head End
Single-mode Fiber
Switch or node
Page 21
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 22
Light as a Communications Method
Used for hundreds of years
Smoke Signals
One if by land, two
if by sea
Page 23
John Tyndall and William Wheeler
John Tyndall, 1854
Demonstrated that light could be
guided within a liquid Light Guide
William Wheeler, 1880
Invented Light pipes for home
lighting using reflective pipes
Similar to concept used today for
interior car illumination
http://www.fiber-optics.info/history
Page 24
Optical Fiber
Fastest communications pipe available
Coating
Light ray
Cladding
Core
Light travels in core and is constrained by the cladding
Acrylate coating protects pure silica (glass) cladding
Page 25
Fiber Structure
Core - The center of an optical
fiber. Contains dopants to change
speed of light.
125 microns
Coatings
Cladding
Cladding - Outer layer of glass to
contain light. Different refractive
index.
vv
vs
Core
8-62.5
microns
Coating - Cushions and protects
fibers.
250 microns
Page 26
Two main types of fibers - Single-mode and Multimode
Singlemode fiber Carries only one mode of light
Multimode fiber Carries multiple modes of light
Index of refraction profiles
8-10 m
125 m
Singlemode
cladding
core
50-62.5
m
Multimode
125 m
Page 27
The FTTx Network Macro View
Central Office
/Headend
Fiber to the
Cell Site
Drop closures
Drop
cable
or terminal
High level picture of where things go
Aerial
cable
Fiber Distribution and
Splitter Cabinet
Splice
closures
Underground
cable
Page 28
Typical Outside Plant Cable Types
Aerial and Underground
Aerial Self-Supporting (ADSS),
Duct and armored loose tube cables
Ribbon Cables
Blown Fiber Units
Microcables
Drop Cables
Page 29
Outside Plant Fiber Optic Cable
Most often loose tube cable structure
Fibers loose in buffer tubes
Handles stress/strain and temperature
fluctuations and climatic extremes
Also available in ribbons
Fibers and buffers are color coded
Underground applications
Direct Buried typically armored
Duct cable
Aerial applications
Lashed to a messenger
Self-supporting (ADSS, All-Dielectric, SelfSupporting
Buffer tube
Fiber
Loose buffer
tube structure
Ribbon fiber and cable structure
Page 30
Inside Plant Cables
Indoor cables are different than outdoor cables
Most often tight buffer cable structure
Provides additional protection for handling
Facilitates connectorization
Multiple types of cable structures
Riser, plenum, low smoke/zero halogen products
Designed to meet flame smoke ratings
Yellow colored jacket indicates single-mode fiber
Page 31
Fiber management devices and closures
Used to route and connect fibers
Fiber management devices are
used in the central office or
remote cabinets
Closures are used in the field to
connect cables together
Multiple designs available for
each component
Page 32
Connectors
Fibers use special, precisely
manufactured connectors
LC Connector
Connector color indicates the
polish of the connector
Polish type indicates amount
of back reflection
Critical parameter to
ensure proper
transmission
Blue = Ultra polish
Green = Angle polish
SC Connector
MPO Connector
(12 fiber ribbon
connector)
Page 33
Splitters
Used with Passive Optical Network
(PON) systems
Used to split one fiber into multiple
fibers
Decreases power
Splits bandwidth
Split ratios are factors of 2
1x2, 1x4, 1x8, 1x16, 1x32, 1x64,
1x32
Different deployment methods
Centralized splits
Distributed splits
Cascaded splits
Splitters
Splitter Distribution Cabinets
Page 34
MDU deployments
MDU installations are different
than single-family home
installations
Most MDU installations require
tight bends and bend insensitive
fibers
Manufacturers have developed
fibers and distribution products
specifically for MDU applications
Page 35
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 36
OSP Cable Placement Options
Aerial
Fast, minimal
restoration time
Typical choice for
overbuilding existing
aerial plant
Below Grade
Required by
regulations for most
Greenfield installations
Aesthetically pleasing!
Page 37
OSP Cable Placement Options
Below Grade
Direct Buried
In conduit
In gas Lines
In sewers
Page 38
OSP Buried Considerations
Existing neighborhood, or a new
development?
Must call your local One Call to
locate existing utilities.
Expose these utilities wherever
you will be crossing them.
A vacuum excavator is normally
used to expose utilities. This is
called soft excavation.
Source: FTTH Council
Page 39
Overbuilding with Buried Plant
Directional Drilling
Bores under driveways, streets, landscape,
around existing utilities
Least restoration of ground of buried solutions
Ensures good aesthetics
Higher skilled operation than other methods
More expensive equipment
Typically surface launched
Pilot bore is followed by a pullback of the cable
Source: FTTH Council
Page 40
Overbuilding with Buried Plant
Vibratory Plow
Lower cost option where no surface obstacles exist
Little damage to surface, normally just leaves a
narrow slot
Typically requires minimal restoration to the
ground after installation
Conduit/cable is installed behind the plow blade
Less operator expertise needed
Normally requires only one operator
Source: FTTH Council
Page 41
Greenfield with Buried Plant
Open cut trenching
Often lowest cost method
Easiest to operate method, lower
skilled operator
Requires the most restoration of the
ground of the 3 methods
In new developments can lay
cable/conduit in common utilities
trench
Source: FTTH Council
Page 42
Splicing
Fusion
Most common type of splice
Fibers joined together and melted at
approximately 1600 degrees C
Illustration of electrodes used
to form fusion splicing arc
Mechanical
Common overseas
Less common in US FTTH installations
Splice sleeve to cover completed splice
Page 43
Optical Loss Budget
Designers must ensure enough light
can reach the home in both directions.
Fiber Management
OLT
Unmanaged Switch
Component
Typical loss values
@ 1550 nm
Fiber
0.25-0.30 dB/km
Splices
0.05 dB
Connectors
0.25 dB
Splitters (1x32)
17-18 dB
Encoder & DVD
Page 44
Agenda
Drivers for FTTx
Why fiber
Fiber feeds everything
Flavors of FTTX
Nuts and bolts the components
Installation techniques
Network design configurations
Page 45
PON Design Considerations
CapEx/OpEx
Cost per Household
Cost per Subscriber
Cost to Connect
Scalability
Ease of in-network additions
Ease of network extensions
Build ability
Ability to construction within required timelines
Ability to construction without damaging customer
relations
Incremental Cost per HH Passed Relative to Take Rate
$180
$160
$140
Incremental Cost
$120
$100
$80
$60
$40
$20
$0
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
Hubbed Split
$75
$81
$82
$88
$94
$95
$101
$101
$108
$114
$114
$121
$127
$127
$133
$134
$140
$146
$147
$153
Distributed Split
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
Page 46
Approximate cost proportions
Fiber Materials are only ~8% of cost per home*
Fiber Materials must last decades and support multiple generations of
electronics
FTTH Installed cost per Home*
Electronics: OLT and ONT
generations
8%
43%
32%
Electronics: installation labor 4
generations
Construction, Pathways, Design
17%
ODN: Optical Fiber, Cable,
Splitters, Connections
* 35% take rate, costs and proportions may vary from this typical example
Proper Selection and Design of the Fiber Materials (the 8%) can
help lower the cost of the other 92%
Page 47
Network Design Options
Home Run or Active Ethernet/Point to Point Design
Central
Office
Fibers from the OLT/switch all
the way to the home
For PON, splitters placed in a
central office
Minimizes OLT port usage
SFU
OLT or
switch
SFU
SFU
Splitter for PON systems
Page 48
PON Design Options
Centralized Design
Central
Office
Splitters placed in a
cabinet or hub
Reduces OLT port usage
Requires investment in
cabinet
SFU
Cabinet
OLT
SFU
F1 Fiber
Splitter
SFU
Page 49
PON Design Options
Distributed Design
Splitters placed in splice cases
Minimizes fiber sizes and splicing
Requires dedicated OLT ports
Central
Office
Splitter
OLT
Splitter
F1 Fiber
F1 Fiber
Splice
Case
F1 Fiber
Splice
Case
SFU
SFU
SFU
SFU
Page 50
PON Design Options
Cascaded Design
Central
Office
Multiple splits between OLT and ONT
Balance between fiber and OLT port usage
Increased loss
Splitter
OLT
Splitter
F1.5 Fiber
F1 Fiber
Splice Case
or Cabinet
Splice Case
or Cabinet
SFU
SFU
Page 51
PON Design Examples
Typical Layout Centralized Split
Drop Pedestal
Serving Area
Roadway
Households
Drop Pedestals
250 HHs
Roadway
Splitter
Cabinet
288 Fiber
F2,1-288
288 Fiber
F2,1-280
Dead,281-288
288 Fiber
F2,1-272
Dead,273-288
288 Fiber
F2,1-264
Dead,265-288
288 Fiber
F2,1-256
Dead,257-288
Feeder
Fiber
Page 52
PON Design Examples
Typical Layout Distributed Split
Splitter
Serving Area
Roadway
Households
Drop Pedestal
Serving Area
Drop Pedestals
250 HHs
Roadway
Feeder
Pick-up
Point
Feeder
Fiber
36 Fiber
F1,1-3 (spare)
F1,4-12
Dead,13-36
36 Fiber
F1,1-3 (spare)
F1,4-12
F2,1-8
Dead,21-36
36 Fiber
F1,1-3 (spare)
F1,4-12
F2,1-16
Dead,29-36
1x32 Splitter
& Drop Pedestal
IN: F1,12
OUT: F2,1-32
36 Fiber
F1,1-3 (spare)
F1,4-11
Dead,12-24
F2,25-32
Dead,33-36
36 Fiber
F1,1-3 (spare)
F1,4-11
Dead,12-36
Page 53
PON Design Considerations
1.
OLT Cost per Port
2.
As the cost per port drops, designs that require a higher utilization of ports but less
fiber and splicing become more cost effective
Take Rates
3.
As take rates increase, the impact of dedicating OLT ports to a greater number of
splitters is reduced
Assessing Cost Impacts
When conducting a cost analysis to determine the impact of different design
approaches, it is helpful to focus only on cost that vary between the designs
4.
Eliminate costs that are common to the designs being assessed
Cost Assessment Focus
Cost effectiveness can be measured in multiple ways:
Cost per household/living unit
Cost per subscriber
Page 54
PON Design Considerations
Example Cost Assessment
Incremental Cost per HH Passed Relative to Take Rate
$180
$160
$140
Incremental Cost
$120
$100
$80
$60
$40
$20
$0
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
Hubbed Split
$75
$81
$82
$88
$94
$95
$101
$101
$108
$114
$114
$121
$127
$127
$133
$134
$140
$146
$147
$153
Distributed Split
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
$99
Page 55
PON Design Considerations
Example Cost Assessment
Incremental Cost per Subscriber Relative to Take Rate
$2,500
Incremental Cost
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
100%
Hubbed Split
$1,502
$813
$545
$440
$377
$316
$288
$254
$239
$228
$208
$201
$195
$182
$178
$167
$165
$163
$155
$153
Distributed Split
$1,980
$990
$660
$495
$396
$330
$283
$247
$220
$198
$180
$165
$152
$141
$132
$124
$116
$110
$104
$99
Page 56
MDU Design Approaches
1.
MDU ONT
ONT placed at existing demarcation point
Utilize existing wiring (coax, cat 3/5) to the living units
2. Single Family ONT
Drop placed to each living unit
ONT mounted within the living unit
3. Desktop ONT
Drop placed within living units (along molding, etc.)
Page 57
MDU Design Pros and Cons
1.
MDU ONT
2.
Single Family ONT
3.
Avoids challenges and costs associated with retrofitting buildings
Dependent on type and condition of existing wiring
Eliminates usage of existing wiring (possibly substandard)
Cost and labor intensive
Desktop ONT
Minimal space requirements
Typically requires drop to be routed through the living units (aesthetics)
Page 58
Summary
Video, internet, and new applications are driving bandwidth increases
that require fiber
Fiber is the best method for providing low cost, high bandwidth
services
Lowest cost/bit
Lowest OPEX
More reliable than metallic technologies
Lower attenuation, weight
Fiber architectures include various versions of PON and Point to Point
Multiple ways of deploying FTTH
Different design options for outside plant can significant impact costs and network
functionality
Page 59
