Types of Fiber Last Mile Connections

Posted by dasanzhone on November 27th, 2018

If you’ve gotten a notice that fiber optic internet is available in your neighborhood, you may consider making the switch. Fiber internet can offer unparalleled speed and bandwidth, and it represents the wave of the future for internet service providers. Fiber internet uses light and bundles of glass fibers to communicate data instead of copper wires and electricity.

With fiber being a new concept for many, it’s important to understand the types of fiber connections that can provide service to your home or business. Last-mile connections are the various ways that fiber internet reaches your home or business. There are multiple types of last-mile connections that can get fiber to the home. Read on to learn more about those types.

FTTB Connections

FTTB, or fiber to the building, connections mean that fiber runs to the building then the internet connection is distributed around the building via copper lines. This type of fiber connection is common in places where there may be many terminals utilizing the same fiber input such as apartments, schools, hotels, and buildings.

FTTP, FTTH, and FTTD Connections

FTTP is another name for fiber to the premise. FTTH is fiber to the home. FTTD is fiber to the desktop. Though each type has a different name, they are similar in that they represent the most direct paths for fiber into the home. In these instances, a fiber connection ties in directly to the devices that utilize internet. With these types of connections, there is no copper element at all. You get nothing but pure fiber connection into your home or business, but it comes with a cost. These are the most expensive types of fiber connections.

FTTC, FTTN, and FTTS Connections

FTTC is fiber to the curb. FTTN is fiber to the neighborhood. FTTS is fiber to the street. These types of connections are the most common types of fiber connections available in the market today. In all these cases, the fiber is delivered to a street cabinet, and from the cabinet to the end user, the connection is all copper. It represents an affordable type of fiber because internet service providers don’t have to invest in costly infrastructure to each individual residence or building. These connections also carry the added benefit of being expandable as new homes or residences move onto the network, which means additional infrastructure investment is not necessary on the part of the internet service provider.

If you've been thinking about fiber internet for your home or business, research the different types of last-mile connections so that you know exactly what you’re getting with fiber to the home.