FTTx :: FTTH

FTTx stands for Fiber To The x, where x could be H(=Home), C,B,N,P or perhaps other letters. It is basically a form of "broadband" access technology and refers to "a generic term for any network architecture that uses optical fiber to replace all or part of the usual copper local loop used for telecommunications" (Wikipedia).

Types of FTTx:

• FTTCurb | FTTNode | FTTCab | FTTKerb? – Fiber to Street Cabinet --> distribution and drop cables: telco copper (DSL) or new copper; categorised as DSL technologies
• FTTBuilding – Fiber to Apartment / Office Building --> in-building cables: building copper or fiber; regarded as a transitional stage to FTTH
  
• FTTHome – Complete Fiber Path to Home --> in-building cables: house copper or fiber or wireless; may require more initial investment (capex), but promises considerable savings in operating costs (opex)
  

Asia Pacific Submarine Cables

I've just read Peter Evans's article on the new WFN issue dealing with cables in APAC region and mentioning some optimistic/pessimistic views of this development. Short speaking, almost everybody agrees that oversupply happens for intra Asia segment (though, it doesn't mean that prices will decline! - history has shown this!) but the arguments for trans-pacific are varied; while some players/observers see some positive things, the other predict that it could be a "dangereous" bubble (something likes that in 2000s).

TGN Pacific

Tata's TGN Pacific is actually a quite "old" system :-D; but it counts to the well-designed systems.

• The system forms a self-healing ring connecting US to Japan
  
• RFS : December 2002
• CAPEX: USD 1.7 bn (For comparison: Tata acquired Tyco for USD 130 mn in 11/2004 !!)
  
• Capacity : 460 Gbps initial ??; 960 Gbps (upgrade in 2006); 1.28 Tbps 2008 ??
• Length : 22,300 km

Exploring Telkom / Telkomnet

I've captured robtex-view of Telkomnet two or three months ago (see below). And this is relevant with the conversation between Sang Pemimpin and Meneer Tutut.

First of all, "the edges of an AS graph represent logical relationship between ASes and do not represent the form of the physical connection" (Lixin Gao). Short speaking, this describes more-or-less the BGP-view from a specific AS.

Telkom currently owns at least 2 ASes : AS7713 and AS17974. All external connections seem to be happened at AS7713, while AS17974 looks to be a "domestic island". As we can see below, BGP-views from these ASes are different. Two or three years ago, I found a good source related with this issue made by Timothy Griffin. I have to check this again, or maybe if you have interest, you could try "google" using his name.

Pacific Cables + Completion of TGN - IA

Quotes from TM's talk:

• The increasing trend has seen upgrades and new submarine cable investment in Asia. An increase of 120% in the Trans-Pacific route capacity is already happening in 2008.
• An additional approx 4Tbps would be available; further 5-7 Tbps being planned for 2010
• Whilst these are planned capacity; it still uncertain as to the actual capacity that will be made available for the market
• If the trend is to be followed, then such capacity will be required. Again the issue of cost will creep in whereby can the end user actually be willing to pay for the ever increasing hunger for bandwidth
• The breakdown of the model of end users paying for the bandwidth may see the capacity being less utilised leading to over capacity

Several hours ago, Commsday has reported that "Tata Communications has confirmed that its TGN Intra-Asia cable is undergoing final testing and will be ready to carry traffic from February".

Femtocells & Femto BTS

I've just read some articles related with this "femto" issue. Also, maybe some of you have heard about this thing ...

Source/Courtesy FemtoForum.org

At least Sprint and Verizon have already offered early "femto" services (cited from dailywireless.org | lightreading.com). But for me, at a first glance, it wasn't quite clear: what benefits are given to the customers? Whether these femto-APs/BTSs could really with-reasonable-benefits replace existing infrastructures? ....

"Alternative" Cable

I still don't get any support for this idea. One of my friend, which is financially strong connected, said that it won't financially be feasible!! So, what do you think? Isn't Malaysia-Singapore-Indonesia market large enough to have a good business with this? Learning from Hengchun earthquake, do we really need route diversity ? Of course, there is "oversupply" on the northern route (EAC-C2C, APCNx, etc.) but is there no enough reason for telcos/companies to buy capacity on this route ? :-D

SJC (2)

According to Evans (EGS):

"The supply contract for South East Asia Japan (SJC) seems at the time of writing about to be signed. This pan Asian system has landing sites in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan; the system has additional optional segments to Vietnam and Guam. Installation is expected in 2010."

Source/Courtesy : Graham Evans/WFN

JaKa2LaDeMa

I've just followed a news entry fed to my reader from Subtel. It's about Jaka2ladema, I've mentioned here several months ago. Well, it's for me quite a bit surprise that Telkom announced officially its project. Or could it be just the suppliers' initiative ? :-D . In any case, my congrats to Fujitsu/NSW! I do hope that NEC does the similar thing, since BSCS is not a secret project, right ? :-D

• Suppliers/Contractors : Fujitsu-Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke (NSW)
• CAPEX: more than USD 100 mn
• Connects Kalimantan-Sulawesi; Java, Bali, Lombok
• RFS schedule : Q1/2010
• Hybrid repeatered/repeaterless system + BUs
• Cables: LW, LW protected, SA, DA -- NSW's MINISUB
  

Source/Courtesy : Telkom/Fujitsu-NSW/Subtel

Planned & As-Laid Pacific Cables

Just want to highlight some interesting issues mentioned by Graham Evans in the new WFN release. In the pictures below, you see some new transpacific cables (planned/currently-installed/in-service).

According to Graham : "TPE is in service, AAG is nearing completion, Unity has been surveyed and will be installed in 2009, and the FLAG Eagle system has been postponed". Well, we might soon hear some formal service/project announcements of these new systems; AAG?, SJC?

Palapa Ring (8)

Actually, there is no significantly observable progress of this Palapa Ring project since my previous post. Only some minor issues can be found as public releases (as of middle January 2009) :