FTTH network ePlanner overview

INTRODUCTION

Opportunities such as the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

(RDOF) have enabled tier 2/tier 3 operators, rural electric
co-ops and municipal utilities to provide reliable high-speed
broadband to their communities. The opportunities are
immense—but so are the challenges.

For the RDOF winners and their technology consultants, the next challenge
is translating their conceptual plans into detailed designs tailored to their
specific use case. Selecting the appropriate network topologies, technologies The opportunities
are immense—
and product solutions involves dozens, if not hundreds, of difficult decisions.
For most smaller rural utilities and co-ops, however, the fiber landscape may
be unfamiliar territory.
but so are the
challenges.
That’s why CommScope has developed the FTTH ePlanner.

2
Navigating your network’s design

The FTTH ePlanner is an interactive guide that helps network

engineers and consultants understand and navigate the
multiple decisions that go into transforming their conceptual
network vision into a working design.

It takes you step by step through the major infrastructure decisions—

from the central office, feeder and distribution network to the inside of
the customer’s home.

Each section introduces you to the key topologies, product types and design
considerations involved in building your network. Interactive decision trees
The FTTH ePlanner
guide you in configuring a customized broadband network design and is the product of
understanding the product options to implement your strategy.
CommScope’s 40+
The FTTH ePlanner is the product of CommScope’s 40+ years of broadband years of broadband
network design and success. It includes the insights gained from our
involvement with the global standards bodies and field experience with
network design
service providers of all size. The following is just a sample of the information and success.
it includes.

3
Anatomy of a broadband network

Designing a best-fit broadband network begins by breaking it into its technologies, 25G and 50G PON, are now in development and will be ideal
three main parts: central office (CO) cabling and connectivity, the feeder for 5G cross-haul.
and distribution network, and your on-premises drop strategy for single-
• Wave division multiplexing (WDM) is enabling operators to get more out of
family units (SFUs) and multi-dwelling units (MDUs). Of course, all three
their existing networks. WDM options include passive, active and a mix of
are interdependent and must be designed within the context of the others.
semi-active or semi-passive. The widening variety of solutions will enable
That being said, a number of larger trends are affecting broadband network
operators to choose a best-fit solution for their specific applications.
designs. Here are a few of them:
• A growing number of rural providers are considering fixed wireless as a way
• There is a strong preference among operators for passive optical networks
to answer the ubiquitous demand for faster (read 1 Gbps) broadband.
(PON) to handle residential and business services. This same PON architecture
continues to evolve to the point of supporting 5G backhaul. Keep these trends in the back of your mind as you read the insights and
information that follow.
• Network operators are turning to newer PON technologies that have
evolved from GPON. These include XGS-PON and NG-PON2. Two additional

Inside plant Outside plant Inside plant

Central office Feeder Distribution Drop Premises
Area covered is typically 144 to 384 homes connected per each FDH
FDH OPTION 1
(with splitters
1:32)
MST
288 or 432
for cable
feeder OPTION 2
network

48/72/144 FST
FOSC for cable
distribution
network OPTION 3

FDH
(with splitters
1:32) NOVUX Terminal
(coming soon)

4
Central office connectivity

As the number of fibers in the distribution and access portions of the

Cross-connect ODF configuration
network increases, the ability to manage them in the CO is critical. The key
tool for managing high-density fiber connections in the central office is the Equipment To fiber optic Pros
patch cords transmission
optical distribution frame (ODF). How your ODF is configured can make a
· Greatest
equipment
flexibility for network
Outside plant
big difference. The FTTH ePlanner will guide you in determining the best CO cable(s) reconfigurations

connectivity solution for your application. · OSP and equipment terminations

have dedicated terminations
Cross-connect or inter-connect?
OSP
· Reduces the time required to
turn-up or restore services
When it comes to managing thousands of fibers, there are two cabling
Cons
topologies: a cross-connect design or an inter-connect design. Both can
use an ODF to terminate your outside plant (OSP) and CO equipment, but
Cross-connect
patch cords
· More equipment, rack or floor
space is required
each is configured differently. An inter-connect can also be supported by a
standalone fiber-optic panel for small fiber count applications.
· Typically is a 35% increase in
equipment costs

Cross-connect: A cross-connect architecture uses the ODF as a dedicated

termination point for both the OSP fibers and the equipment fibers. All fibers
Fiber Optic Panel configuration
connect in the rear of the ODF. The OSP and equipment fibers are connected
via a short cross-connect patch cord routed between the two ports on the Outside plant
To fiber optic
Pros
transmission
cable(s)
front of the ODF. equipment

· Less equipment is required than

Cross-connect
Inter-connect: In an inter-connect configuration, an ODF or fiber-optic panel
· Ideal
OSP
Equipment for small environments such
provides a termination point on the rear for OSP fibers, while the equipment patch cords
as a hut or cabinet
fibers terminate on the front. For each service turn-up or reconfiguration, a
Cons
long patch cord is routed from the equipment to the ODF or fiber-optic panel
inter-connecting equipment to OSP fiber. · Limited flexibility for network
reconfigurations

· OSP and equipment do not have

dedicated terminations

· Increases the time required to

turn-up or restore services

5
Feeder and distribution network

Your feeder network originates at the central office (CO) with higher count Centralized: A centralized split strategy uses a single layer of splitters,
fiber cables that typically terminate at a fiber distribution hub (FDH), located typically 1:32. These splitters are fed by the fibers exiting the optical line
typically within a neighborhood, or in the case of a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) terminal (OLT) ports in the CO and distribute individual fibers to each
possibly within the building. In a PON architecture, the distribution network premises. The splitter is typically connectorized and located in an outdoor
starts where the feeder network terminates—at the FDH. Here, smaller count cabinet or FDH or spliced into an OSP fiber-optic splice closure.
fiber cables connect to terminals located close the individual home or groups
Distributed split: A distributed split approach typically does not use splitters
of homes to be serviced.
in the central office. Instead, the OLT port in the CO is connected or spliced
The FTTH ePlanner will guide you in determining the best feeder and directly to an outside plant fiber. A first level of splitters (1:4 or 1:8 typically)
distribution architecture and topology solution set for your application. are either placed in a FDH or spliced into an OSP fiber-optic splice closure. A
The following are some decisions to consider regarding the feeder and second level of splitters (1:4 or 1:8) resides in terminal boxes very close to the
distribution network. customer premises, with each splitter covering four to eight homes. These
splitters are fed by the fibers from the first-level splitters.
Centralized or distributed split architecture?

Splitting the signal from the central office for delivery to individual homes can
be done in one of two ways: a centralized (single-stage) split or distributed
(two-stage) split design.

Central office Hub box or cabinet Box or closure with Box with
with 1:2 splitter that holds all splitters Box with Central office 1st level splitter 2nd level splitter
(one level, big ratio) only patching (1:4 or 1:8 typ.) (1:8 or 1:16)

Optical Line Optical Line

Termination Termination

1:32 Splitter 1:8 Splitter 1:8 Splitter

Pro: OLT utilization (pay as you grow) Con: More distribution fiber, and possibly Con: More CAPEX in actives Pro: Lower CAPEX for customer connection
Pro: Future-proof; easier to change technologies additional infrastructure Con: Rigid network with less flexibility for technology changes Pro: Faster customer turn-up
Pro: Monitoring & maintenance Con: Fewer monitoring & maintenance capabilities

6
Feeder and distribution network Continued

Multiport service terminals Fiber indexing: Fiber indexing is a novel approach that uses connectorized
cables and terminals and allows installers to use a cookie-cutter approach
Whether you select a centralized or distributed architecture, the fiber cables to build out the network. The exact same components are “daisy chained”
from the distribution network must be terminated before you can handoff together, limiting the need for custom cable assemblies or splicing. The basic
service to the living units. This is typically done using multiport service building block, which is repeated throughout the service area, includes a
terminals (MSTs). An MST provides easy plug-and-play connectivity between terminal with a built-in splitter (1:4 or 1:8), hardened connector, 12-fiber
the distribution network and home. There are two main types of MST: inputs and outputs, and four or eight hardened connector drop ports to
standard connector terminals and hardened terminals. the homes.
For standard connector terminals, the optical connectors or adapters and The indexing begins with a 12-fiber cable entering the first terminal. In the
splices are inside the terminal, and must be re-opened every time a new terminal, fiber 1 is routed to a splitter for servicing local customers, while
customer needs to be connected. The hardened connector terminals, the remaining fibers are “indexed” or moved up as they exit the terminal to
however, use outside adapters to access the inside connectors, and require connect to the next terminal. Indexing means the second fiber entering the
no opening when connecting new customers. The FTTH ePlanner will terminal will exit as the first fiber to enter the next terminal, and so on in a
guide you in determining the best multiport service terminal solution for daisy-chained fashion.
your application.
Optical tap: A distributed optical tap architecture is different from a splitter-
Options within a distributed split architecture: cascaded, based architecture. An optical tap architecture uses fiber-optic taps spliced
fiber indexing or tap? into the distribution network—enabling a portion of the signal to be siphoned
off and fed to locally connected customers. Multiple taps can be placed where
Within the distributed split architecture, there are several options: cascaded,
needed until the optical link budget (or customers per OLT port) is maxed out.
fiber indexing or optical tap.

Cascaded: In a cascaded design, two layers of splitters are used to divide

and distribute the signal. In most cases, the first layer of splitters (1:4 or 1:8
typically) are either placed in a FDH or spliced into an OSP fiber-optic splice The FTTH ePlanner will guide
you in determining the best
closure. The second level of splitters (usually 1:4 or 1:8) is located near the
customers’ homes and is fed from the output fibers in the first level. In a
typical two-layer split, each second-layer splitter can serve 32 or 64 homes. multiport service terminal solution.

7
Fiber drop cables

The fiber drop is the final step in connecting the customer to the network.
A typical FTTH deployment will involve a wide variety of connection and
application types: aerial installations, underground conduit installations,
or even in-ground burial. Network operators need to be prepared for
all scenarios and have fiber drop solutions that can withstand the most
demanding environmental conditions and mechanical stresses. The structures
into which the fiber must be run vary, as well: single-family units, multi-
dwelling units, office buildings, etc. Here, too, providers need flexible
solutions that offer a wide range of connectivity options.

And, of course, speed of deployment is critical. The faster you can connect
new customers, the lower your installation costs and the faster your ROI.
Many network providers are turning to equipment solutions that offer a
flexible plug-and-play architecture, and connection schemes that minimize or
even eliminate the need for fiber cable splicing in the field. The FTTH ePlanner
will guide you in determining the best fiber drop solution for your application.

Cabling and termination for single-family units (SFUs) and

multi-dwelling units (MDUs)

Cabling and terminating fibers within a single-family unit often involves

pulling pre-connectorized cables from the optical network terminal (ONT),
usually located in the basement or on the outside of the home, to the
wall outlet. Cabling an MDU is usually a bit more involved depending on
how many floors and living units the building has. Options here include
whether or not to use splitters onsite, using a traditional cabling strategy
or newer technologies like RapidReel®, which can speed the engineering
and installation process. Again, the FTTX ePlanner does an excellent job of
explaining these options and guiding you through the decisions.

8
Time to start designing!

Now that you have an idea of the key decisions involved in designing your
FTTH network, the next step is to begin translating your FTTH concept into a
practical design. This is precisely what the CommScope FTTH ePlanner helps
you do.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a solid grasp of which options are the best for
your design. CommScope created the FTTH ePlanner to help you navigate and
understand the broadband landscape. The FTTH ePlanner explains the pros
and cons of each architecture strategy and topology solution set, providing
helpful resources and product information along the way. It enables you to
compare a range of architectures and topology solution sets. Once the FTTH
ePlanner has guided you to the architecture and topology solution set that
is right for you, you and CommScope can work together to generate the
detailed bill of material based on your specific project requirements.

To get started, contact your CommScope representative

and request a consultation on utilizing the CommScope
FTTH ePlanner. Together, we’re building a brighter, more
connected future.

9
CommScope pushes the boundaries of
communications technology with game-changing
ideas and ground-breaking discoveries that spark
profound human achievement. We collaborate
with our customers and partners to design, create
and build the world’s most advanced networks. It
is our passion and commitment to identify the next
opportunity and realize a better tomorrow.
Discover more at commscope.com

www.commscope.com
Visit our website or contact your local CommScope representative for more information.

© 2021 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved.

All trademarks identified by ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc.
This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or supplement any specifications or warranties relating to CommScope products or services.

CO-115267-EN (03/21)

10