The Complete Guide to FTTH Networking Equipment
Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks are the future of high-speed connectivity. Deploying an efficient FTTH network requires using the right equipment and components. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about building and managing an FTTH network.
Optical Fiber Cables: The Foundation of FTTH Networks
Optical fiber cables are the backbone of any FTTH network. Choosing the right type of fiber cable is crucial for optimal network performance.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Fiber Optic Cables
- Cable type: Single-mode vs. multimode fiber
- Fiber count: Number of individual fibers in the cable
- Cable structure: Loose tube, tight-buffered, ribbon fiber etc.
- Armoring: Armored vs. non-armored cable
- Bend radius: Minimum bend radius specification
- Environment: Indoor, outdoor, aerial, underground etc.
Commonly Used Fiber Optic Cable Types
- Single-mode fiber (SMF): Used for long-distance transmission. Supports only one propagation path. High bandwidth over long distances.
- Multimode fiber (MMF): Supports multiple propagation paths. Used for short-distance applications. Provides high bandwidth over shorter distances.
- Indoor cable: Designed for indoor/internal cable routing. Compact, flexible cables with tight-buffer construction.
- Outdoor cable: Designed to withstand harsh outdoor environments. Uses loose tube construction and may have metallic armoring for protection.
- Aerial cable: Designed for installation on overhead poles. Lightweight with metallic armoring for strength.
- Underground cable: Suitable for direct burial underground. Heavy-duty protection against damage and moisture.
- Ribbon cable: Contains fiber ribbons comprising multiple fibers joined together. Allows high fiber count in compact cable.
- Armored cable: Contains metallic armoring (steel tape/wires) for rodent/termite protection. Used for direct burial.
Leading Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturers
Some of the major manufacturers providing high-quality fiber optic cables suitable for FTTH networks include:
- Sterlite Technologies
- Aksh Optifibre
- Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics
- Finolex Cables
- Paramount Communications
- Polycab India
- Universal Cables
- Diamond Power Infrastructure
- Syrotech Networks
- Spec Cables
Optical Fiber Cable Pricing
Fiber optic cable prices depend on various factors like type, fiber count, construction, armor etc. Indicative pricing for fiber optic cables is:
| Cable Type | Typical Price Range |
| 2-core outdoor cable | Rs. 2.5 – Rs. 4 per meter |
| 4-core outdoor cable | Rs. 4 – Rs. 7 per meter |
| 6-core outdoor cable | Rs. 7 – Rs. 12 per meter |
| 12-core outdoor cable | Rs. 15 – Rs. 25 per meter |
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Higher fiber count cables are costlier. Armored cables also command a premium over unarmored. Taxes extra as applicable.
ONT Devices: Optical to Electrical Signal Conversion
Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) convert the incoming optical signal from the fiber cable into electrical signals for use within homes and offices.
Figure 1: ONT device with fiber optic and ethernet ports
ONT Types Used in FTTH Networks
- EPON ONT: Supports Ethernet Passive Optical Networking
- GPON ONT: Supports Gigabit-Capable Passive Optical Networking
- XGS-PON/XGPON ONT: 10 Gigabit GPON standard
- RF Video Overlay ONT: Provides RF video service over FTTH
- WiFi ONT: Has inbuilt WiFi router and WiFi access point
- Voice ONT: Provides telephone and voice services over fiber
Leading ONT Equipment Manufacturers
Some of the major ONT manufacturers in India are:
- Tejas Networks
- Nokia-Alcatel
- ZTE India
- FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies
- Huawei Telecommunications
- DASAN Zhone Solutions
- NEC India
- Syrotech Networks
- Uniway
- Secure Eye
- Ubiqcom
- Optronix
ONT Pricing and Cost Analysis
| ONT Type | Indicative Price Range |
| WiFi ONT | Rs. 1200 – Rs. 2000 |
| Voice Calling ONT | Rs. 950 – Rs. 2400 |
Taxes extra. Pricing may vary based on brand, model, and specifications.
OLT Equipment: Traffic Aggregation and Routing
The Optical Line Terminal (OLT) aggregates downstream and upstream traffic from multiple ONTs and connects to the operator’s core fiber network.
Figure 2: OLT rack with control, switch and GPON line cards
OLT Port Capacity and Configurations
OLTs are available in different port configurations:
- 4-port OLT – Supports up to 4 PON ports
- 8-port OLT – Supports up to 8 PON ports
- 16-port OLT – Supports up to 16 PON ports
- 32-port OLT – Supports up to 32 PON ports
Higher port count models support more customers and are suitable for large-scale network deployment.
EPON vs GPON OLT
- EPON OLT: Supports Ethernet passive optical networking
- GPON OLT: Supports Gigabit-capable passive optical networking
GPON offers higher bandwidth up to 2.5 Gbps downstream and 1.25 Gbps upstream. EPON is limited to 1 Gbps symmetric bandwidth.
Leading OLT Equipment Manufacturers
Top OLT manufacturers in India include:
- Tejas Networks
- Syrotech Networks
- Uniway
- Secure Eye
- Ubiqcom
- Optronix
- ZTE India
- Nokia Alcatel
- Huawei Telecommunications
- UFISpace
- DASAN Zhone Solutions
- NEC India
- Cisco Systems
OLT Pricing and Cost Considerations
| OLT Type | Indicative Price Range |
| 4-port EPON OLT | Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 55,000 |
| 8-port EPON OLT | Rs. 45,000 – Rs. 65,000 |
| 16-port EPON OLT | Rs. 75,000 – Rs. 95,000 |
| 4-port GPON OLT | Rs. 45,000 – Rs. 60,000 |
| 8-port GPON OLT | Rs. 70,000 – Rs. 1,00,000 |
| 16-port GPON OLT | Rs. 85,000 – Rs. 1,10,000 |
Taxes extra. Pricing depends on manufacturer, model specifications, and hardware features.
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Routers and Modems for FTTH Connectivity
WiFi routers and modems connect customer devices and equipment to the fiber optic network through the ONT.
Figure 3: WiFi router connected to ONT
Key Factors When Selecting FTTH Routers
- WiFi standards support – 802.11ac, 802.11ax etc.
- Frequency band – dual-band or tri-band
- WiFi range and coverage
- Number of ethernet ports
- VoIP support for voice calling
- Security features – firewall, VPN, etc.
- Smart home platform integration
- Traffic management and QoS
Popular FTTH Routers and Modems
Some well-known router models compatible with FTTH ONT include:
- Syrotech Router: High-performance gigabit router with dual-band WiFi 5, VoIP, and 4 Gigabit LAN ports
- TP-Link Archer C80: Dual-band AC1900 WiFi router with 1 WAN and 4 LAN ports
- Netgear Nighthawk AX8: WiFi 6 router with up to 6 streams, OFDMA, and 8 Gigabit LAN ports
- Linksys Velop Tri-band: Modular tri-band WiFi 6 mesh system for whole home coverage
- ASUS DSL-AC88U: DSL modem with 802.11ac WiFi, link aggregation, and VoIP functions
- D-Link DSL-3900: DSL modem with inbuilt AC1200 WiFi router and four Gigabit LAN ports
FTTH Router Pricing
| Router Model | Price Range |
| Syrotech Dual-band Router | Rs. 1200 – Rs. 1500 |
| TP-Link Archer C80 | Rs. 1900 – Rs. 2300 |
| Netgear Nighthawk AX8 | Rs. 11,000 – Rs. 13,000 |
| Linksys Velop 3-pack | Rs. 21,000 – Rs. 24,000 |
| ASUS DSL-AC88U | Rs. 12,500 – Rs. 14,000 |
| D-Link DSL-3900 | Rs. 3800 – Rs. 4500 |
| SY-GPON-1110-WDONT | Rs. 1400 – Rs. 1600 |
| SY-GPON-2010-WDAONT | Rs. 2000 – Rs. 2500 |
Pricing depends on model specifications. Taxes extra as applicable.
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FTTH Enclosures and Connectivity Hardware
FTTH networks require additional equipment like enclosures, patch panels, connectors etc. for housing fibers, splitting signals, and smooth cable routing.
Figure 4: FTTH enclosure box with optical fiber adapters
Key FTTH Enclosures and Hardware
- FTTH Ceiling Box – Mounted on ceilings for fiber patching and splicing
- FTTH Wall Outlet – Mounted on walls to terminate fiber and provide connection ports
- LIU/Termination Box – Used for fiber optic splicing, slack storage, and management
- Rackmount Fiber Panel – Mounted in racks for fiber patching and cross-connection
- Pole Mounted Enclosure – For outdoor fiber cable termination and splicing
- Splitter Box – To split a fiber signal into multiple outputs
- Fiber Patch Cords – For interconnecting fiber ports and equipment
- Pigtails & Patch Cords – Pre-connectorized cables for plug-and-play connectivity
- Fiber Adapters & Connectors – LC, SC, FC, ST etc. adapters and connectors
Brands Offering FTTH Enclosures and Hardware
Top manufacturers of FTTH enclosures and connectivity hardware include:
- TE Connectivity
- CommScope
- D-Link
- Leviton
- TP-Link
- Huber+Suhner
- R&M Fiber Optics
- Rosenberger
- Prysmian Group
- Sterlite Technologies
Cost Analysis of FTTH Enclosures and Hardware
| Item | Indicative Pricing |
| FTTH Ceiling Box | Rs. 550 – Rs. 750 |
| FTTH Wall Outlet | Rs. 350 – Rs. 500 |
| 4U LIU Fiber Enclosure | Rs. 6000 – Rs. 8000 |
| 12 Port LC Rackmount Panel | Rs. 2500 – Rs. 4000 |
| 8 Port SC Wall Box | Rs. 1600 – Rs. 2500 |
| 8-way Fiber Splitter | Rs. 600 – Rs. 900 |
| LC-LC Duplex Fiber Patch Cord | Rs. 230 – Rs. 400 |
| SC-SC Multimode Pigtail | Rs. 60 – Rs. 100 |
| LC Fiber Adapter Plate | Rs. 150 – Rs. 250 |
Pricing depends on features, specifications, and brand. Taxes extra as applicable.
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Fiber Optic Splicing Equipment
Fiber optic splicing connects two fiber cable ends using precision alignment and fusion splicing. This requires dedicated equipment.
Figure 5: Fiber splicer splicing two fiber optic cables
Types of Fiber Splicers
- Fusion splicers: Use electric arc to fuse two fibers together. Provide lowest loss and highest reliability.
- Mechanical splicers: Use epoxy, gel or elastomer to join fibers. Lower cost but higher insertion loss.
- Core alignment splicers: Precisely align fiber cores before fusing/joining. Provide excellent splice performance.
- Cladding alignment splicers: Align fiber cladding rather than core. Suitable for multimode fibers.
- Single-fiber splicers: Can splice only one fiber pair at a time. Low cost, used for simple networks.
- Mass fusion splicers: Can splice multiple fibers (up to 12) simultaneously. For splicing ribbon fibers.
Major Fiber Optic Splicer Manufacturers
Leading makers of fiber optic splicing equipment are:
- Fujikura
- Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
- Furukawa Electric
- ILSINTECH
- INNO Instruments
- Nanjing Jilong Optical Communication
- China Electronics Technology Group
- Shenzhen Ruiyan Communication Equipment
Fiber Splicer Price and Cost Considerations
| Splicer Type | Indicative Price |
| Core alignment single-fiber splicer | Rs. 90000 – Rs. 120000 |
| Cladding alignment mechanical splicer | Rs. 55000 – Rs. 75000 |
| 6-12 fiber mass fusion splicer | Rs. 300000 – Rs. 500000 |
| Handheld portable fiber splicer | Rs. 65000 – Rs. 85000 |
| Automated robotic fiber splicer | Rs. 800000 – Rs. 1000000 |
Pricing depends on features, specifications and manufacturer. Taxes extra as applicable.
Choosing the Right FTTH Products Vendor
While choosing vendors and suppliers for your FTTH equipment, consider these factors:
Product range – Offer a wide range of FTTH products from fiber cable to OLTs and enclosures
Technical expertise – Have expert knowledge of fiber networks to provide guidance
Quality and certification – Supply products that adhere to industry standards and norms
Competitive pricing – Provide transparency in pricing and offer competitive rates
Inventory availability – Have sufficient stock to fulfil orders without delay
Customer support – Responsive support staff to resolve issues and assist with orders
Logistics infrastructure – Ability to ship products conveniently across regions
Post-sales service – Promptly address defects, replacements, and warranty services
Brand reputation – Established player with proven track record of supplying to telcos
Choose vendors who score well on these parameters for a seamless FTTH network deployment.
Top Vendors and Distributors for FTTH Products in India.
Eliza Infotech, the creator of Ftth Distributors, is a leading distributor of FTTH equipment in India. Based in Panipat, they provide high-quality material primarily in Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Himachal, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and all other states with doorstep delivery. Their vast range of FTTH products includes EPON and GPON OLT, EPON, GPON, and XPON ONT, JC Box, LIU, patch cords, optical fiber cable, fusion splicers, FSB boxes, rack mount and pole mount splitter boxes.
Conclusion
Deploying an FTTH network requires bringing together multiple equipment like fiber optic cable, ONT/OLT devices, enclosures, routers, splitters, patch panels etc. This guide covers the key products needed for an FTTH network buildout along with factors to consider while selecting vendors and suppliers of FTTH equipment. With the right components sourced from reputable players, you can successfully roll out a high-speed fiber-to-the-home network.