FTTH Deployment Cost Comparison for SFU - Air-blown Fiber vs. Fiber Optic Cable Solutions

摘要

Since mass-deployment of FTTH networks is a reality in many parts of the world today, it is increasingly important for the network builders to use cost-effective deployment techniques. This paper compares deployment costs for an under ground FTTH network in an area with Single Family Units (SFU). An air-blown fiber solution is compared towards traditional cabling techniques as well as cabling systems with pre-terminated cable assemblies (terminal distribution & drop systems).To make a fair comparison of different technologies for passive network infrastructures is hard due to the numerous parameters to consider. In this analysis, a well defined topology has therefore been used for all three solutions. Cost estimations on materials and labor can sometimes be questioned. Therefore, this study is based on a scenario with 40 homes from previously released material presented in Broadband Properties, September 2006, issue 9, in combination with the expertise from Ericsson. This approach should give a fair comparison compared with many other studies with arbitrary and subjective estimations.The cost comparison presented includes a cost for homes passed as well as a cost for certain penetration rates. A home is considered to be passed when fibers or micro ducts are connected to a Network Access Point (NAP=FAT), in this scenario to a NAP in a handhole. A home is connected when fibers are installed all the way from the SFU to the Local Convergence Point (LCP=FDT), not including splicing in/towards the LCP.The results show that Air-blown fiber system is by far the lowest cost solution. The second best solution, the terminal distribution system, is at least 30% higher cost than ABF for areas with low to medium penetration and about 25% higher cost for areas close to 100% penetration.