Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the transmission of communication signals through fiber optics from a carrier's switching equipment all the way to a home or business, replacing existing copper infrastructure such as telephone lines and coaxial cables. It is based on fiber optics and provides unprecedented high-speed Internet access. FTTH vastly improves the connection speed available to computer users compared to the technology currently used in most places.

FTTH promises connection speeds of up to 100 Mbps, which is 20 to 100 times faster than a typical cable modem or DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection. However, the cost of implementing FTTH on a large scale is quite high, as it requires the installation of new cable groups on the "last link" from existing fiber optic cables to individual users. Currently, many cities enjoy extensive fiber optic to curbside (FTTC) services, which refers to the installation and use of fiber optic cables near homes or businesses to curbside and the transmission of signals between curbside and end users over a "copper" medium.

What is fiber optic?

Optical fibers use light rather than electricity to transmit signals. What makes them unique is their ability to carry high-bandwidth signals over long distances without degrading signal quality. Copper wires can also carry high bandwidth, but only for a few hundred yards—after which the signal starts to deteriorate and bandwidth narrows. Fiber optics have been used in communication networks for more than 30 years, primarily to carry traffic between cities or countries.

Why are fiber optic cables now directly connected to homes?

Connecting a home directly to a fiber optic cable can dramatically increase the bandwidth available to consumers. While DSL and cable modems typically offer transfer speeds of up to 5 trillion bits per second when downloaded (and often slower when uploaded), current fiber optic technologies can offer two-way transfer speeds of up to 100 trillion bits per second. Additionally, while cable and DSL providers are working to squeeze small increments of higher bandwidth out of their technologies, continuous improvements in fiber optic equipment are continuously increasing the available bandwidth without the need to replace fiber optics. That's why optical networks are called "future-proof."

Why can't I get these high-bandwidth applications through DSL or cable modem?

DSL and cable modems rely on copper wiring to transmit signals to your premises, but copper can only deliver high bandwidth over very short distances. If you happen to live within a few hundred yards of the provider's central office, this may suffice—but most users don't. Fiber optics eliminate this limitation entirely, enabling long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission to both residential and commercial locations. Only Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) technology can provide the massive bandwidth capacity required for future applications.

The Fiber Broadband Association is an organization that provides advocacy, education, and resources to companies, organizations, and communities looking to deploy optimal networks through Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Fiber to the Enterprise (FTTE), and Fiber to Everywhere (FTTX) initiatives. The association's members represent the entire broadband ecosystem, including suppliers, vendors, consultants, consumers, policymakers, equipment manufacturers, and application providers. The association can be regarded as a leading group of innovators in this field.