Fiber-optic technology is regarded as the industry best-practice for both residential and business network installations. But not all fiber networks are the same.
Comparing fiber network architecture is a lot like taking a side-by-side test drive with a Prius and a Tesla—while the two vehicles are similar in nature (they’re both electric), you get a much better ride in the Tesla due to its superior engineering and high-performance design.
To choose the fiber network architecture that will best perform for your property, start by understanding your options.
There are two types of fiber installations: Active Optical Network (AON) and Passive Optical Network (PON). Ironically, even though fiber is regarded as the future, most providers still use an antiquated PON architecture for install (it’s the same network design used by cable providers). PON uses splitters and OLT/ONT equipment, which leads to frustrating and disappointing results, from slow upload/download speeds to lags or jitters in content streaming.
In a PON structure, cables (or fiber strands) are run from the main Demarc and then splitters are used to splice the single cable into multiple strands, which are fanned out and shared with multiple neighbors connected to the splitter.
The undeniable best practice for fiber-optic deployment is AON architecture; it runs a dedicated fiber strand to every home or condo directly from the Demarc—there are no splitters. This fiber-to-the-home design is regarded as “futureproof” networking as it delivers full, uninterrupted signal strength.
AON offers a host of benefits for homeowners:
It’s safer. Because there are no splitters, there’s no commingling of data. Using dedicated fiber strands, AON is more private and secure; hackers cannot snoop on, or access, your data.
It’s faster. AON facilitates symmetrical (equal) bandwidth—it has the same upload as download capacity; and it has the lowest latency (i.e. fastest network speed) physically possible. This is something that’s really noticeable when you’re gaming or using real-time Web Services such as a VoIP phone, streaming video, or using commercial online applications such as Quickbooks Online, Quicken, or Saleforce.com.
It’s cleaner: With AON architecture the signal won’t be subject to typical service degradation and outages caused by massive congestion that plague Cable, DSL, and PON fiber networks.
It adds value. An AON FTTH upgrade to your community can also boost your property value 3.1 percent (Source: University of Colorado at Boulder and Carnegie Mellon University, Fiber Broadband Association).
Interested in learning more about futureproof AON for your community or business? Connect with me directly at speed@qxc.us.
John Von Stein
