Samrat Kulkarni, Mohamed El-Sayed, Paul Gagen, Beth Polonsky
FTTH network economics: Key parameters impacting technology decisions
Different technology options are available to operators today for their Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network deployment strategy decisions. Gigabit-Passive Optical Network (GPON), Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), Active Ethernet (AE) and Point-to-Point Ethernet (P2P) are the major competing technologies. There are a number of technical, economic and business drivers that impact the right choice for each specific network situation. When modeling network economics, it is important to consider a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model to enable operators to rightly evaluate these choices, instead of comparisons of only specific cost elements (e.g., port costs). On the other hand, in a network model with a large number of parameters it is often challenging to identify the key parameters that are critical to the decision-making. An operator runs the risk of picking an incorrect technology strategy if any of these key parameters are not identified and cost optimized.