What is FTTC? – Fiber to the Cabinet
Fiber to the cabinet is a connectivity technology that is based on a combination of fiber optic cable and copper cable. The fiber optic cable is in place from the local telephone exchange to a distribution point (commonly called a roadside cabinet), hence the name fiber to the cabinet. From this distribution point, a standard telephone line based on copper is then used to deliver the broadband connectivity.
How does FTTC work?
Basically, FTTC is a fiber optic connection from the switch to the cabinet that is shared between various people over copper telephone lines. Fiber optic connections are made from your nearest switch to the nearest “cabinet”. These cabinets are green boxes that you may see locally that are used to distribute the Internet to various people on the network.
Alternative names for FTTC
Some of the other common names people use when referring to FTTC include:
- Super-Fast Broadband
- Infinity
- Fiber Broadband
FTTC Speeds
The speed of your FTTC connection is largely dependent on how close you are to the nearest cabinet and how many other people are sharing the connection.
- Downloading speed
In general, FTTC offers three different download variants, which are:
80Mbps download (76Mbps maximum throughput)
55Mbps download (52Mbps maximum throughput)
40Mbps download (38Mbps maximum throughput)
- Uploading speed
The upload speed provided for FTTC is usually:
20Mbps upload (80Mbps download)
10Mbps upload (55Mbps or 40Mbps download)
2Mbps upload (40Mbps download)
There are no guaranteed download or upload speeds for FTTC connections, and performance will depend heavily on the amount of data used by others on the network and your distance from the cabinet. If you live within 100M of the cabinet and there are not too many other users on the network, then the above download and upload speeds are very achievable during off-peak hours. Otherwise, it’s worth checking your actual estimated speeds before signing any contracts.
Benefits of FTTC
- Low Price
FTTC is one of the cheapest Internet connections available in China. It utilizes existing phone lines, keeps setup costs low, and has virtually no ongoing maintenance costs. The monthly rent is also very low.
- Faster than ADSL
Since the connection between the cabinet and the switch is via fiber, the FTTC connection will give you faster speeds than an ADSL line.
Drawbacks of FTTC
- Fierce competition
With many other users sharing the same connection, your download and upload speeds will fluctuate throughout the day, making it difficult to use in a business environment.
- Slow speeds
Although an FTTC connection is faster than ADSL, it is still very slow compared to leased fiber or wireless lines.
- No SLA
Service Level Agreements guarantee uptime, fast service recovery and 24/7 monitoring of the connection. This is fairly common when viewing business Internet connections, but it is not available on FTTC connections.
In summary, FTTC Broadband is a trusted universal Internet service. It is a hybrid broadband system that uses both fiber optic cables and traditional copper wires to provide high-speed Internet connectivity. FTTC broadband is faster and more reliable than traditional ADSL broadband, as well as a cost-effective solution to deploy. However, its limitations must be considered, for example, depending on distance and availability in different areas.
