Telecompetitors around the world are well aware of the growing need to invest in next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and passive optical network (PON) technologies, but they are hesitant to do so, preferring to wait for prices to come down to the point where they reach parity with current equipment prices, according to Infonetics Research.
In its “Next Gen FTTH and PON Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey,” Infonetics analyzes results from interviews with incumbent and competitive operators in North America, Europe and the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Central America about their plans, drivers pricing and product requirements, as well as manufacturers they’re working with and those they are considering working with. Also included are the vendors they consider among the top 3 FTTH equipment suppliers.
Highlights of the 26-page report include:
- Though vendors’ expectations are high for a third wave of FTTH deployments using next generation technologies, FTTH trials and deployments will be slow to materialize.
- Increased bandwidth per subscriber is the top reason operators will ultimately deploy next generation FTTH technologies, followed by the delivery of IPTV and broadcast video.
- The features most often cited by carriers as required in an FTTH ONT were VoIP, 802.11n, and HPNA, signaling a continued shift away from basic bridge devices to integrated residential gateways.
- Calix was the vendor most often cited by carriers as one of the “top 3 FTTH vendors”.