Technology

Fundamental FTTH
Planning and Design: Part 1
Placement of network elements in the field can have a major effect on
deployment costs. Here are some principles to follow.
By David Stallworth ■ OFS

C
hoosing the right fiber-to-the-
home design strategy is very
important, but the best strategy
in the world may not achieve the de-
sired results if network elements are not
placed economically in the field. Years
ago, OFS initiated a Fundamental Plan-
ning research project to address this is-
sue. The project was later expanded to
include the locations of central offices
(COs) and nodes. This massive effort led
to the development of ideal configura-
tions for outside-plant networks and op-
timal locations for COs and nodes.
In the study, we developed an ideal
solution based on an ideal service area –
By understanding what an ideal network should
look like, a planner can configure a real network
to conform to the ideal as much as possible.
a square with streets arranged in square
blocks (see Figure 1).
The initial study consisted of mov-
ing the CO or node around the area to
study the effects of its position on total
network costs (see Figure 2; the CO is
the red point). Most of the variation
was in outside-plant cost, as other costs
(switches, terminations and so forth)
remained constant. The CO or node
was placed in various positions in the
ideal area, and various configurations
of feeder routes were studied along with
the associated support structures.
Figure 2 shows just a few of the
Learn about the challenges
of FTTH deployment at the
Broadband Properties Summit,
April 26–28 in Dallas.
locations studied. We studied virtually locations and outside-plant network
every possible configuration, evaluating configurations. Some of the conclu-
multiple feeder routes; different routing sions became obvious once they were
techniques, such as parallel routes, per- discovered, and others were revelations
pendicular routes and circular routes; that have been further refined over the
and different cable sizes or route capaci- years. By understanding what an ideal
network should look like, a planner can
configure a real network to conform to
the ideal as much as possible.
The study showed that the most eco-
nomical location for a CO or node is ex-
actly in the middle of the area it serves
(see Figure 3). This position not only
yielded the lowest cost for all custom-
ers in the serving area but also provided
the lowest optical loss to all customers.
ties. As the studies progressed, patterns
began to emerge that were both intuitive Most designers consider this an intuitive
and informative. finding.
For a square area with uniform den-
The node goes in the middle sity throughout, the ideal node location
From this study, we reached several is in the middle of the area it serves. Let’s
general conclusions that have proven call this the geographic economical lo-
over time to define the most economi- cation (GEL). However, because not all
cal method for planning CO or node areas have this characteristic, we should
About the Author
David Stallworth is the design and product manager at OFS, a manufacturer of opti-
cal fiber and connectivity solutions. You can reach him at 770-798-2423 or by e-mail
at dstallworth@ofsoptics.com.

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 Technology
consider what happens when the density
is not uniform. Consider the situation in
Figure 4, in which the lower left quad-
rant, outlined in blue, has a density of 64
homes instead of 32. How would this af-
fect the ideal location for a CO or node?
With uneven density, the ideal loca-
tion moves from the center of the serving
area closer to the denser area, but not all
the way there. Clearly, the denser area has
more customers and requires more facili-
ties; at the same time, other areas’ costs
increase as the CO or node is moved fur-
ther away. Let’s call the new ideal point
the density economical location (DEL).
Figure 1: We began with an ideal study area that was completely uniform. Of course, the denser the area, the
more the ideal will drift toward it, so
density plays a role in CO or node lo-
cation. Figure 5 indicates the effect of
the denser area on CO or node location.
This is a conceptual drawing that shows
the ideal location moving closer to the
denser area.
Notice that the DEL is now offset
from the GEL. One can develop intricate
formulas to calculate the relationship be-
tween the two points for an area. In the
real world, it is better to understand and
apply the relationship than to spend time
on detailed calculations because the real
world poses still more problems.
Because not many towns or cities
are ideal, the planner must make adjust-
Figure 2: Within the ideal study area, we tried out many possible network configurations. ments to fit actual city or area layouts.
Experience is important in meshing the

Figure 3: This is the most cost-effective location for the central office. Figure 4: We then made the study area less ideal by varying its density.

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 Technology
Cost rises exponentially the farther
away the central office or node is
located from the ideal point (that
is, the center of the service area
adjusted for density variation).

ideal with the actual. For example, on the coast of South Caro-
lina, where I live, we do not have many eastern routes – the
Atlantic Ocean is in the way! Valleys are usually oblong and not
square, yielding only two possible routes. However, the prin-
ciples of the ideal world still apply, and planners should make
every effort to come as close as possible to the ideal.
Figure 5: Density affects the proper placement of the CO or node.
There is a very good reason to stay as close as possible to the
ideal: As shown in Figure 6, cost rises exponentially as
the location moves away from the ideal point.
In building a network, the first step is to locate the
GEL point and then adjust it for density. After establish-
ing the DEL, the designer can examine the area to locate
appropriate land or rights-of-way. This requires good en-
gineering judgment. Access to a road network is needed
for placing cables. In addition, the location should be
blended in with the surrounding structures and should
be as “green” as practical.

the principle applies at any scale

Figure 6: Cost rises exponentially with the distance from ideal location.
Though this model was initially developed for CO and
node locations, it has additional applications. If opti-
cal splitters for a PON are placed in a cabinet, the same
question arises: Where should the cabinet be located?
The analysis is very similar because the cabinet serves a
defined area, and cables need to be laid to all customers
in the area. We should expect the findings to be similar if
the premises and conclusions are correct.

Figure 7: Splitter cabinet location (cabinet is red dot) Figure 8: Smaller cabinet locations (cabinets are red dots)

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 Technology
Figure 7 shows where to place a cabi-
net to serve a subarea that the designer
has identified as having consistent re-
The principle of locating equipment in the center
quirements (the subarea may be all of its service area is valid no matter what the
residential or all business, for example).
Note that the subarea is carved up into scale. Central offices, field cabinets, active nodes,
even smaller 32-home areas.
The same area is shown in Figure 8,
splitters and even drop closures are all most
except that a smaller cabinet size is used economically placed at the center.
(160 instead of 320 homes). Even the
smaller cabinets are placed in the middle
of the areas they serve. Documenting
each 32-home area, typically in a drop the customers or area it serves.
service area boundaries is essential so
closure and spliced to the fibers entering These concepts can be extended still
that facilities can be planned and placed
and leaving the closure). deeper into the network: A drop closure,
to serve a defined area and not extended
past any boundary line. too, should be placed in the middle of the
distributed architecture area or customers it serves. Even though
Even in very small areas, costs rise as
In a distributed 1 x 32 architecture, it is the potential saving from positioning
the cabinet location moves away from
possible to serve at least 256 customers a single drop closure is not large, many
the ideal central location. This principle
applies in an active Ethernet deploy- with a single 24-fiber cable by using the drop closures are placed in a network.
ment where remote nodes are placed optical splitter to full advantage to elim- Adhering to these concepts for all of them
in the field: Such nodes should also be inate dead fibers. The same is true with may result in an overall smaller cost.
in the middle of the areas they serve. a cascaded splitter deployment, where In Part 2 of Fundamental FTTH
The same holds true for optical splitters a 1 x 4 splitter serves four 1 x 8 split- Planning and Design, we will turn our
placed in a distributed manner (distrib- ters spread over the 32-home area: Each attention to configuring the fiber routes
uted splitting means placing a splitter in splitter should be placed in the middle of out of these facilities. BBP

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