FTTx :: FTTH

FTTx stands for Fiber To The x, where x could be H(=Home), C,B,N,P or perhaps other letters. It is basically a form of "broadband" access technology and refers to "a generic term for any network architecture that uses optical fiber to replace all or part of the usual copper local loop used for telecommunications" (Wikipedia).

Types of FTTx:

• FTTCurb | FTTNode | FTTCab | FTTKerb? – Fiber to Street Cabinet --> distribution and drop cables: telco copper (DSL) or new copper; categorised as DSL technologies
• FTTBuilding – Fiber to Apartment / Office Building --> in-building cables: building copper or fiber; regarded as a transitional stage to FTTH
  
• FTTHome – Complete Fiber Path to Home --> in-building cables: house copper or fiber or wireless; may require more initial investment (capex), but promises considerable savings in operating costs (opex)
  

Note: The difference between FTTN and FTTC is quite subtle and is mostly that the latter is nearer the customer than the former. The broadly-defined term fiber to the premises (FTTP) is sometimes used to describe FTTH and/or FTTB.

According to FTTH council, as of mid 2008 the distribution of FTTH/FTTB subscribers is as follows:

• North America : 3.4 mn subs
• Europe : 1.4 mn subs
• Asia Pacific (mostly East-Asia) : 27.8 mn subs
  

APAC's leaders in FTTH/B deployments are South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. How about Indonesia ? :-D It's quite far away but last year Biznet has claimed to have "a first Fiber To The Home (FTTH) network in South East Asia" (SG isn't in South East Asia???)

Source/Courtesy : Wikipedia/Riick

FTTH Statistics (as of June 2008) - Source FTTH Council

Highlight (as of June 2008) :

• FTTH is THE mainstream fixed access technology ( over 32M FTTH/B subscribers globally )
• Governments and Regulators in all countries are working towards the large scale rollout of FTTH ( RFP’s underway in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, ..)
• Asia-Pac leads the world in FTTH depoyment !

Singapore

• NetCo RFP awarded to OpenNet (Axia, Singtel, SPH, SPT)
• Government Grant of $750M
• OpCo RFP – submission 14 Nov 08, award Q1’09

Malaysia

• HSBB to build in selected regions, 20Mbps, fiber-based
• BBGP for all Malaysia, 2Mbps, multi-technology
• Telecom Malaysia will build HSBB