The successful deployment of any flexible, cost-effective fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network requires thoughtful decisions regarding all segments of the network, from the optical line terminal (OLT) in the central office to the optical network terminal (ONT) attached to each home and everything in between. While much attention is focused on the distribution and access elements within the outside plant (OSP) network, it’s also important to consider the implications of FTTP architectures within the central office (CO) | Central Office Implications for Deploying FTTP od LU Central Office Implications for Deploying FTTP The successful deployment of any flexible cost-effective fiber-to-the-premise FTTP network requires thoughtful decisions regarding all segments of the network from the optical line terminal OLT in the central office to the optical network terminal ONT attached to each home and everything in between. While much attention is focused on the distribution and access elements within the outside plant OSP network it s also important to consider the implications of FTTP architectures within the central office CO . Probably the biggest mistake any carrier can make is believing that an FTTP does not require the same flexibility as a transport network. However a mindset that the FTTP network does not require the same level of access flexibility and protection given to other aspects of the network is too often the mindset of some network planners when first looking at deploying an FTTP network. In reality however FTTP architectures pose significant implications for the CO in meeting the same levels of performance required for transport segments. First up - architecture decisions Before specific product selections can be made some critical network architecture decisions are necessary. These key decisions involve connection strategies flexibility in terms of test access points and WDM positioning. Deciding on a CO network architecture for FTTP networks requires the planner to perform a balancing act. The goal in any network is to minimize capital expenses and long-term operational expenses while achieving the highest possible levels of flexibility within the network. The basic function of an FTTP network in the central office is to connect the OLT equipment to the OSP fibers deploying WDM somewhere in the middle to enable voice and data signals to be combined with video signals. Figure 1 Video Optical Line Terminal P-OLT Packet Optical Line Terminal P-OLT Raceway FiberGuide System
