Overcoming Challenges in FTTx Deployment Fixed line service providers must revisit their strategy to meet growing customer demand
Communications | Whitepaper
Inside
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Abstract
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Future-Proofing Networks
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Cha llenges in Deploying FTTx
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Addressing the Challenges: Plan to Build
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Network Inventory Management and Operations Support
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Delivery Models
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The Promise of Next-Gen Fiber Networks
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The Cyient Thought Board
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About Cyient
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Communications | Whitepaper
Abstract In a dynamic market, it is critical for telecom service providers to meet the need for high-speed data, flawless phone and VoIP calls, and high-quality video streaming. This is possible by investing in developing future-proof fixed line telephone architecture. FTTx technology is the solution to deploy such networks. With the right combination of technical and human skills and market factors, FTTx can deliver broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps which is 20 to 100 times faster than a conventional cable modem or DSL connection.
Future-Proofing Networks
Challenges in Deploying FTTx
As the telecom industry evolves, fixed line service providers face more constraints as they compete against the mobile telecom sector for larger market share. They need to relook at their strategy to provide future-ready solutions to meet the rising customer expectations and demand.
Telecom companies offering fixed line phone and wired broadband services face stiff competition from mobile telephony and the Wi-Fi segment. As fixed, mobile, data, and cable networks converge, the commercial, technical, administrative, and regulatory challenges in this domain become more severe for FTTx deployment.
When compared to other alternatives, fiber has proved to be a more efficient mode of delivering high bandwidth. A single strand of fiber can transmit 200 or more wavelengths of 40 GB each and this can cater to the needs of an entire community. To stay competitive, companies need to deploy Next-Generation Networks (NGN) through fiber-to-the-x (where x is the home/premises/building/cabinet/curb/ node) technology. Efficient implementation of FTTx technology calls for strategic analysis of the market and network planning. Service providers must identify comprehensive frameworks where complex interactions can be effectively managed. These need to be substantiated by methodical investment in systems, tools, and skilled resources to deliver a successful FTTx program. The role of an experienced design, build, operate & maintain partner is crucial in devising a cost-effective way of network deployment. 01
Although fiber can be used economically to meet citywide demands, it is not easy to make it cost-effective when applied for smaller groups of users, particularly individual houses. A trunk fiber can have numerous people paying their share, but fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is only for a single house. Fiber deployment then becomes a trade-off impacted by cost of the service in relation to the potential revenue from a subscriber. Other key challenges in the implementation of FTTx include: Strategy: The service provider must outline a cohesive FTTx rollout approach to ensure that the design, build, operate & maintain processes optimally address commercial, regulatory, technological, and timescale-related problems in provision of new services and the “homes passed� (number of homes that have been passed by the cable network, can be connected to it, and are available for use).
Communications | Whitepaper
Network planning and engineering: In deploying fiber for greenfield and brownfield/ overlay sites, where incumbent operators already use copper network infrastructure, planning and design decisions become more critical. They must be made by choosing the appropriate technology—such as GPON, EPON or P2P, and FTTx architecture in terms of FTTh/ FTTp/FTTc/FTTn. Operations support and preparation: The complications of legacy copper and fiber network inventory data systems and their migration to integrated Next-Generation Operations Support System (NGOSS) systems pose significant challenges in delivering effective physical/logical network inventory system and operations support. The problems are evident in both the pre- and postdeployment stages. For service fulfillment and to ensure that broadband investments deliver real value, it is necessary to have enhanced OSS capabilities. CAPEX and OPEX regulations: It is important to achieve cost-efficacy in FTTx deployment by reducing CAPEX and OPEX. This calls for accurate cost estimation before initiating the plan and build work. Resources need to be scaled for greater efficiency and costs optimized for network planning, design, implementation, and operation phases. 02
Skills and capabilities: Training of teams and their deployment for delivery of FTTx solutions are crucial. The resources however are often trained on legacy copper infrastructure, which is why they lack core essential skills necessary for fiber network planning, engineering, and system management. Technological factors: The high-speed broadband services that are provided through mobile and other Internet technologies based on 3G, 4G, LTE, Wi-Max, DOCSIS 3.0, and VDSL are strong competitors for fiber-based networks. Regulatory constraints: There are regulatory pressures in the form of tight timescales for the provision of “homes passed,” government policies for expansion of FTTxbased broadband solutions, local loop access, and network interoperability issues. It is also necessary to get civil and municipal permissions to lay down fiber network infrastructure.
Efficient implementation of FTTx technology calls for strategic analysis of markets and networks.
Communications | Whitepaper
Addressing the Challenges: Plan to Build To address the concerns around deploying Next-Generation Fiber Networks, telecom companies need to develop a delivery framework that leverages a blend of strategic, commercial, technology, and marketing factors. Together, these need to enable the deployment of scalable and cost-effective FTTx access networks. Such an approach will enable service providers to fulfill their key business goals, provide better customer service, reduce attrition, and earn higher average revenue per user. A practical example of such a framework has been established by Cyient’s plan to build seven-step FTTx deployment process wherein the Next-Generation Fiber Networks are optimized and implemented as per planned budget and timelines. From market analysis to work order recording and maintenance, this process delivers a full, end-to-end life cycle for FTTx deployment.
The plan to build process lifecycle is a sevenstep journey to optimized FTTx networks. Cyient offers support to service providers for any or all of these stages based on their specific needs. This includes: 1. Market analysis: We employ industry best practices and advanced software tools to generate comprehensive reports that include customer demographics, site topography, premises details, and competition analysis. This information enables service providers to get a better overview of customer demand and market conditions that will impact their FTTx strategy. 2. Network planning: Cyient has a team of skilled planning and engineering professionals who are well trained and experienced in telecom processes, tools, and systems. They work in tandem with the service provider’s in-house team to ensure that the new network is planned to meet projected demand. This is done by choosing the right equipment and procedures to meet customer needs and regulatory norms.
Cyient’s Plan to Build Seven-Step FTTx Deployment Process
Network Planning
Market Analysis
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Plan & Cost Approval
Cost Analysis
Field Implementation
Network Design
Work Order Recording
Communications | Whitepaper
3. Cost analysis: The plan to build process utilizes industry-standard modeling techniques and tools to validate FTTx strategies along with allied construction and equipment costs. It helps to optimize deployments while also harmonizing capacity and coverage. 4. Plan and cost approval: Support at this stage helps to get approval by the network and planning department for specific deployments at the regional or exchange level, in compliance with the chosen FTTx technology. 5. Network design: Managing the information crucial to facilitate design and construction of the planned network is an important step in the deployment process. This is realized with the use of proven design systems and tools, and the support of Cyient’s skilled resources. This helps to prepare and process the design work orders that record information pertaining to network path, facilities, equipment, and connectivity—all needed to deploy the strategized network. 6. Field implementation: Once costing and design are approved by the network planning department, field engineers start with the construction of a physical network for converting work orders into as-built forms. Cyient’s careful management and co-ordination of the process hand-offs between field engineering, operations support, and third-party contractors help in ensuring effectual and timely deployment. 7. Work order recording: This elicits payment at the construction stage by enabling accurate recording of the network as it gets deployed and ensures that backlogs are eliminated. With the integration and automation of systems necessary to track and manage work orders and asbuilt records, recording and verification activities are effectively managed. They are continually supported during and after deployment.
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Network Inventory Management and Operations Support A significant aspect of supporting the FTTx deployment process is management of the physical and logical network inventory data as also the operations support systems essential in delivery of service fulfillment and assurance. This requires service providers to invest in NGOSS capabilities. In this context, it is important to overcome challenges in the following areas in both the pre- and post-deployment support stages: a) NGOSS deployment and legacy systems replacement The disparate legacy inventory management systems for fiber and copper networks linked to existing services and the need to deploy and integrate the NGOSS inventory system pose a major challenge for service providers. They must decommission these systems and migrate the data from various sources to a consolidated target setup. In their deployment strategy, service providers must adopt a business- and service-centric approach to implement an inventory management solution that leverages a balanced mix of skills and technology. These can be sourced internally or through an engineering partner. b) Data migration and maintenance Another aspect that is critical to managing end-user, logical, and physical inventory assets to support service fulfillment is defining and implementing an effective strategy for data migration to scalable NGOSS systems. Service providers must carefully plan the migration activities for interconnected copper and fiber networks maintained in legacy systems. A systematic plan is also essential for creating additional fiber assets to supplement new services.
Communications | Whitepaper
Delivery Models A key feature in meeting FTTx deployment targets is the delivery model that service providers choose to implement. Such a model must ensure use of the right skills and resources to create business value and measurable return on investment while also minimizing costs. For this, there are several approaches including cross training of the design, engineering, and operations teams in next-generation fiber technologies. Alternatively, outsourcing/ offshoring models can also be used to bring cost-efficacy while maintaining desired quality levels and turn-around time. Telecom service providers can partner with end-to-end technology organizations that have industry expertise, experience, and delivery capabilities to implement the best models.
The right delivery model can ensure quality and speed of deployment while meeting dynamic customer, commercial, and regulatory demands.
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The Promise of Next-Gen Fiber Networks NGN with FTTx technology offer huge opportunities for fixed line telephone service providers who are trying to offer faster highspeed broadband services to their customers. However, a slew of significant competitive, commercial, and technical challenges make it difficult for them to deploy and manage these networks. To overcome these challenges it is recommended that service providers choose deployment frameworks supported by experienced resources and industryapproved tools at each stage of the FTTx implementation lifecycle. A business-centric approach must be applied in the management of physical and logical network inventory data. NGOSS capabilities help in delivering effective, reliable, scalable, and cost-controlled service fulfillment. By adopting the right delivery model with the support of a skilled technology partner, service providers can maintain the quality and speed of deployment while meeting the rising customer, commercial, and regulatory demands of the high-speed broadband marketplace.
The Cyient Thought Board
Communications | Whitepaper
Overcoming Challenges in FTTx Deployment What are the critical factors in rolling out FTTx networks?
Network design
Delivery model
Operating vs. deployment costs
Component selection
Follow-through standards
Investment in skilled manpower
What are the key challenges to implementing FTTx networks?
Lack of well-defined strategy
Inadequate network planning
Limitations of legacy systems
High CAPEX and OPEX
Lack of skills and technologies
Regulatory constraints
How can telecom companies develop a delivery framework to address these challenges?
Detailed market analysis
Robust network planning
Comprehensive cost analysis
Streamlined plan and cost approval
End-to-end network design
Effective field implementation
How does network inventory management and operations support enable FTTx deployment?
Investing in NGOSS deployment and legacy systems replacement
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Seamless data migration and maintenance
Selecting deployment frameworks with experienced resources
Partnering with a skilled technology provider
Communications | Whitepaper
About Cyient
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Cyient (Estd: 1991, NSE: CYIENT) provides engineering, manufacturing, geospatial, networks and operations management services to global industry leaders. We leverage the power of digital technology and advanced analytics capabilities, along with domain knowledge and technical expertise, to solve complex business problems. As a Design, Build, and Maintain partner, we take solution ownership across the value chain to help our clients focus on their core, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve.
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Š 2018 Cyient. Cyient believes the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date; such information is subject to change without notice. Cyient acknowledges the proprietary rights of the trademarks and product names of other companies mentioned in this document. COM_WP_FTX_OV_0218
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