Fibre to the Node: Everything You Need to Know
The term FTTN which stands for Fibre to the Node is not
new. It has been thrown around a lot. It is the technology leading the NBN
rollout, with nearly thousands of nodes being installed around the nation and
it is how the people of Australia will get the NBN’s superfast broadband. It is
designed to deliver fast data services to your place through a common network
box, which is better known as a node. By 2018, it is expected that over 1.6
million businesses, as well as homes, will be receiving their NBN connection via
FTTN technology.
FTTN is
basically all about Nodes. With FTTN, the NBN fibre runs straight to a cabinet,
better known as node, in your neighborhood. Then it connects the surrounding premises
from the node using the existing copper network. According
to NBN’s chief network engineering officer, Peter Ryan, FTTN technology not
only enables NBN Co to get premises
on to the network quicker but also provides a simple upgrade path.
“This is
the real benefit of FTTN, it allows us to deliver NBN services to end-users in
a time and cost-effective manner which allows us to connect end-users much
sooner than we could with other technologies — but also provides a simple
upgrade path to higher-speeds,” Mr. Ryan said in a blog post.
How fast is Fibre to the Node?
According
to NBN, customers connected to the NBN via FTTN will be achieving download
speeds of around 100Mbps if they are within 400m of the node, as well as speeds
of around 60Mbps if they are more than 700m from the cabinet.
Last
year, NBN CEO Bill Morrow said that he expects 9 out of 10 homes connected to
the FTTN network to get “lightning-fast” speeds of between 50Mbps &
100Mbps.
However,
your actual speeds will be determined by your connection type. A basic NBN
connection will be providing you speed of around 12Mbps. The next step up is
25Mbps, followed by 50Mbps, & 100Mbps.
What equipment will I need for an FTTN connection?
As FTTN
technology makes use of existing copper-wiring, you will be able to keep the
same phone line that you use for your existing ADSL connection. You will not
need any new equipment. However, you will require a VDSL2 ready modem router.
With an incompatible modem, you won’t be getting the maximum potential speeds.
Another
important thing that you need to know is that whatever copper-reliant services
you are currently using, such as your home phone or ADSL broadband will be
switched off 18 months after FTTN gets connected in your area.
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