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Evolving markets The connectivity challenge
Among these challenges is the one posed
by evolving mobile networks. With 4G, the
backhaul of data between towers relies
heavily on fibre and as 5G networks begin
to be realised, this traffic is only expected
to further increase, highlighting the vital
requirement for fibre to reach beyond the
street cabinet, into the home or at least
to buildings. In light of these developments, FTTH
technology has never been more important,
but there are still hurdles on the road to
gigabit connectivity. As the move to next-
generation networks gathers pace and
technology evolves, a skills gap is emerging
in the industry and it needs to be bridged if
operators are to meet market demands. The
requirement for skilled man-power to handle
splicing and high-quality installations, while
having the skillset to tackle cable slack issues
is key. Challenges also lie in the high number
of pieces and accessories being handled
within the field and the use of expensive
splicing machines for largescale rollouts.
As a result of the number of smart home
applications, IoT devices, HD/4K video
downloads and security applications
increase, networks must also become
faster and more resilient to ensure these
devices are supported. In addition, rising
residential construction in emerging
economies and increased investments in
the telecom sector are further driving FTTH
technologies globally.
This fundamental need to make networks
smarter has expanded beyond the world
of telecoms and is being addressed by a
number of countries. Governments are
making plans to deliver broadband-enabled
applications such as 5G, IoT, augmented
reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to
improve a number of verticals, including
education, healthcare, public services and
government activities.
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INTELLIGENTCIO
Dr Arvind Mishra, Head of Application &
System Engineering at Sterlite Tech
Initiatives such as these are becoming
increasingly prominent in Europe, which is
implementing connectivity targets of up
to 1Gbps for schools, universities, research
centres and other critical institutions. There
are also plans to widen this to European
households by 2020, providing people
with the option to upgrade their 100Mbps
connections up to 1Gbps in the future. As cities become increasingly connected,
the demand for FTTH in urban areas is also
increasing, raising concerns regarding the
reliability of the network amid the dusty
conditions under construction buildings
in cities. When it comes to rural areas,
broadband speeds are still lagging behind
the urban networks and needs
immediate overhaul.
The challenge – and opportunity – for
operators is to find a cost-effective and quick
way to respond to these initiatives and meet
demand, while complying with strict market
requirements such as those set by the EU. In addition to this, the high cost and time
of installation of FTTH networks is also an
overriding concern, as system integrators
are often met with tight deadlines from
operators looking to stay ahead of the game.
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