HomeMy WebLinkAboutTom Ballaster Letter March 6, 2002
To: Alan Harry
From: Tom Ballister
Dear Alan:
I hope you will consider the following as the TTPUD finalizes its plans for deployment of
data communications facilities to support video, as well as voice and data services.
I am aware of the Hybrid Fiber/Coaxial (HFC) design that is being considered, and have
reasonable confidence the design will facilitate all services.
However, there is a considerable amount of industry investment taking place in an alternative
technology referred to as "Fiber To The Home", or FTTH. Unlike HFC, which employs both
Fiber and copper (in the form of coaxial cable) to implement transmission services, an FTTH
system can employ pure light-based transmission technology.
There are several significant benefits to a pure FTTH design:
1) There is little challenge throughout the industry to the notion that a pure fiber based
design represents the least risk of obsolescence.
2) FTTH costs can be amortized over a significantly longer period.
3) A pure fiber design inherently provides maximum bandwidth potential.
s) A pure fiber design supports the use of Passive Optical Network (called "PON")
components in the distribution system. Passive components do not require electronics,
and thus powering, and therefore represent lower ongoing operating costs.
5) The lower complexity of the pure light system brings with it inherently higher levels of
reliability.
The simple major down side of FTTH is often argued to be cost. However:
This argument is often raised with regard to retrofitting into higher density metropolitan
areas where trenching costs dominate. This aspect does not apply here.
2) The number of vendors participating in the FTTH equipment market is steadily
increasing. In addition to the experienced traditional vendors such as Lucent, Seimens,
Ericson, Alcatel, Nortel, Marconi, etc., numerous new companies are entering the
market. The result is an increasingly competitive environment, and thus lowering costs.
It would be highly prudent, in my assessment, that some additional investment of time be put
into understanding the alternatives before casting final decision. A healthy exercise would
produce a traditional decision matrix, comparing general requirements and criteria against
alternative solutions, and would clearly outline the relative benefits, risks, and costs. With
this in hand I believe you will be in the best position to make an educated decision.
I thank you for your consideration.
Best Regards,
(By Electronic Transmission)
Tom Ballister