When we talk about delivering triple play there are a few proven technologies in place. Pinaki chatterjee, executive director, distribution channel & business development, zyxel technology india pvt. Ltd. Elucidates some of the trends.
ABOUT FTTH
Actually FTTH is only a part of the large domain FTTx (FTTN, FTTS, FTTB, FTTC, FTTH etc.) in which FTT stands for “Fiber to the” and last letter stands for NOC, Building, Street, Cabinet and Home. The application of the technology is to deliver Triple Play Services (Voice, Data and Video). There are two technologies revolve around this terminology – GPON and GEPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network or Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network), which are very similar in terms of the application. Both the technologies have advantages and disadvantages so it is the customer to decide which one fits his requirement from both technologically and pricing stand point. There is of course a huge confusion around this terminology- FTTH is understood as Active Fiber Deployments for normal LAN switches or Fiber termination to each home with the help of low cost match box media converter. Mostly customer forgets that it’s not about Fiber but about Triple Play services, which is only possible when the infrastructure, products and technology used can understand how to priorities the three service to make it work seamlessly.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
The FTTx’ advantage in the Indian market is that there is a huge scope of growth as basic IT infra¬structure is not in place. With proper technology education and understanding of the final goal around Triple Play, it can be a booming business. Already the big Real Estate brands are toying with the terminology to woo the customers.
As disadvantage bandwidth its cost is still a big challenge. Secondly Indian consumers still do not consider Internet and e-services as necessity. Plus, there is a sporadic power outage in the country.
PRESENT TREND IN THE MARKET
In the Indian market, the trend is not yet very clear as the deployments are much unorganized. There is no proper business model as nobody is ready to bear the cost although large real estate companies are showing intent to offer it. But they fail to capitalize psyche of the buyers who expect all their services running smooth as they walk into their flats. Therefore, they create hype about Fiber ready home than actual Triple Play Ready Homes.
MARKET POTENTIAL
The Indian service providers who have money power, technology understanding and ready with basic infrastructure. In the US market, mobile handsets are mostly sold through service providers but still there is an open market. So Triple play has a huge potential provided the service providers take a practical approach in terms of ownership. In some complexes or societies they should keep the infrastructure under their control and in some other societies, they should allow the RWAs to own it because not all the societies would like to marry to a particular service providers, they should be free to choose the service provider. Then only the potential of Triple play can be realised.
MAJOR TECHNOLOGIES
ADSL: Delivers triple play on traditional single pair copper telephone wire, implementation on a new infrastructure is super-fast (i.e. 600 flats solution can be implemented in 4-5 days’ time). Can deliver Voice, Data and Video (PSTN, Broadband and IPTV), Deliver up to 24 mbps per connection.
VDSL: Delivers triple play on traditional single pair copper telephone wire, implementation on a new infrastructure is super-fast (i.e. 600 flats solution can be implemented in 4-5 days’ time). Can deliver Voice, Data and Video (PSTN, Broadband and IPTV), Deliver up to 100 mbps per connection.
GEPON: Delivers triple play on Fiber using Splitters and other passive components, implementation on a new infrastructure takes time (i.e. 600 flats solution can be implemented in at least 30-60 days’ time). Can deliver Voice, Data and Video (IP Voice using IPPBX, Internet and IPTV/Cable TV), Deliver up to 32 mbps typically per connection.
GPON: Delivers triple play on Fiber using Splitters and other passive components, implementation on a new infrastructure takes time (i.e. 600 flats solution can be implemented in at least 30-60 days’ time). Can deliver Voice, Data and Video (PSTN, Internet and IPTV/Cable TV), Deliver up to 32 mbps or more typically per connection.
