subject: The Dull But Costly Side Of Next-gen Access : Optical Distribution Networks [print this page] Service providers (SPs) buy next-generation access (NGA) infrastructure primarily through tenders focused narrowly on specific product areas. Similarly, the big NGA vendors are good at selling boxes but less proficient at partnering with SPs to help deploy and scale NGA networks economically. Consequently, constructing the optical distribution networks (ODNs) that constitute up to (on average) half or more of the per-subscriber cost of NGA rollouts is left to the carriers and a wide range of outside plant, design, and test companies. We see an opportunity for access systems vendors to more actively support carriers ODN buildouts to the benefit of both parties. Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, and ZTE are taking some steps in this direction already, in an effort to provide their customers with NGA solutions rather than commoditized hardware.
Table of Contents
Executive summary
In a nutshell
Ovum view
Key messages
Optical distribution network market
Optical distribution networks: also known as holes, poles, and permits
Only a few systems vendors provide full set of fixed NGA solutions across multiple regions
Construction costs dominate other elements of NGA
Keeping priorities straight during NGA rollouts
Regulatory issues related to ODN
Aesthetics
Helping SPs roll out NGA networks: vendor business model evolution
Huawei
Alcatel-Lucent
ZTE
Corning
Marais
List of Tables
Table 1: Key suppliers of ODN hardware and accessories
List of Figures
Figure 1: Fiber to the premises (FTTP) network topology example
Figure 2: Multiple types of access networks
Figure 3: Telecom Italia installing fiber along streets of Milan
Figure 4: Rough costs of per-subscriber installation cost (2007): US vs. China
Figure 5: Ciscos allocation of FTTx costs into three buckets
Figure 6: Priorities in the metro network: one vendors view
Figure 7: NGA directions
Figure 8: P2MP/P2P passive optical networks
Figure 9: TT&T copper cross-connect box
Figure 10: Huawei engineers installing FTTH for Etisalat
Figure 11: ZTEs process for planning and budgeting an ODN project
Figure 12: Application of preconnectorization cable systems in aerial plant
