PROJECT TITLE :

Techno-economic evaluation of open access on FTTH networks

ABSTRACT:

The deployment of a new fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network will open up a much higher bandwidth to the customers compared to currently deployed copperbased solutions, but its rollout costs are immense. Opening the network and sharing the same infrastructure and its costs with multiple actors offers important value saving opportunities. A therefore-called open access network will give interfaces for access at different network layers: dark fiber, wavelength, or bitstream. Although open access permits for a higher usage of the shared infrastructure and as such for a higher payback of the value, open access does not return free. The cooperation of actors and also the interfaces at the open access network layers require additional equipment, processes, and transactions, resulting in further costs. This paper describes the different varieties of open access, and quantifies the extra value for putting in and operating an open access network: connecting a brand new various operator, connecting a brand new end-user, and therefore the impact of churning. The models and calculations show that the value of providing an open access network is low compared to the investment cost for infrastructure or architecture competition, however is not negligible and it can have a significant impact on the value for connecting new providers and end users. The cost for connecting a new provider entails important equipment and method costs, especially for fiber open access, whereas the procedure for a new or churning end user is dominated by transaction prices. The costs can be reduced by automation, standardization and sharing of transport of technicians among end users.