FTTH Conference 2017
Since its inception in 2004, the FTTH conference and exhibition has been held annually, with each event taking place in a different European city. This year the FTTH Conference will be held in Marseille, France, from 14 to 16 February 2017, under the patronage of the President of the French Republic, François Hollande.
Already the world’s largest FTTH-themed event, the conference and exhibition continues to grow. The show is expected to open its doors to more than 3,000 participants from 94 countries. The comprehensive two-day exhibition will showcase products and technologies from 120 exhibitors while the event programme includes more than 155 speakers and 11 themed workshops organised by partners and member companies of the FTTH Council Europe.
In 2017 the conference will also include a session focusing on the French experience. Policy makers in France have been strong advocates for FTTH over the last few years, including the national government with its ‘Plan France Très Haut Débit’. The French model and the experience of local fibre projects, both public and private, should be of great interest to project leaders and international investors, the organisation says.
‘Now the countdown is on! We encourage everyone interested in digital and tech developments to join us for a series of exciting debates and a technology expo,’ said Erzsebet Fitori, Director General of the FTTH Council Europe. ‘We hope to see you in Marseille! Together, let’s build a brighter future!’
EXHIBITORS FOR SHOW
Adtran (booth P01) will be discussing the impact of software-defined networking in access networks. Service providers are changing the way they build their broadband and business services networks in an effort to deliver user-driven service models and to operate at web scale. Data centre networking principles anchored in software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) models are being leveraged by progressive broadband network operators to enable rapid services growth and allow massive operational efficiencies.
As well as exhibiting, Adtran, will take part in the conference presentations. Kurt Raaflaub, head of strategic solutions marketing, will talk about these web-scale networking benefits and how they are afforded by the open, programmable, and scalable services framework inherit within the software-defined access architecture, SD-Access.
AVM, (booth S17), a supplier of customer devices for high-speed broadband and home networking, is presenting its FRITZ!Box 5490 for fibre optics. This broadband router – which is available across Europe – enables direct access to an active optical network. AVM says the FRITZ!Box 5490 for fibre optics combines everything that makes its flagship DSL device, the FRITZ!Box 7490, so successful: gigabit speeds, cutting-edge hardware, free FRITZ!Apps and the diverse functionality of the FRITZ!OS operating system. Offering higher speed and greater range in the home network, the FRITZ!Box 5490 features the latest Wireless AC technology with speeds up to 1300Mb/s. For convenient voice in HD, the FRITZ!Box incorporates a telephone system with answering machines, an integrated DECT base station, and options for analogue, ISDN and IP telephone connections. A powerful media server and smart home functionality complete the range of features.
To win service providers will need to deliver more services while continuing to lower cost. They need to meet the need for bandwidth and rapidly introduce new technologies like NG-PON2 or G.fast. The challenge is daunting, but not impossible. Come to booth G20 and see how Calix can help.
Visitors can find out how to lower their cost of ownership by consolidating edge, aggregation and optical line terminal with the E9-2 Intelligent Edge system or meet the demands for more bandwidth and services over copper with G.fast. Calix will also explain how to win in a subscriber-driven world with the award-winning AXOS-based intelligent access architecture and Compass Cloud experience management software.
Next-generation access technology will be very much reliant on a fibre heavy infrastructure, particularly as we move ever closer to the arrival of 5G. CommScope, a supplier of fibre-optic connectivity, will share insight on why the worlds of fixed and wireless networking appear to be colliding, and how operators can make sense of network convergence.
Come to booth P04 and uncover CommScope’s top innovations — ones that have helped build the world’s infrastructure of today and tomorrow. Its experts can share practical tips on how ultrafast fibre networks can be rolled out across the regions, enabling rural businesses to compete on a level playing field. CommScope champions delivering these services across all parts of Europe – no matter how rural or hard-to-reach.
The FiberPlanIT team from Comsof (booth B19) invite attendees to learn how to overcome FTTH planning and design challenges. ‘Creating splicing diagrams, labelling the equipment and generating the required construction plans is time consuming, repetitive and error prone work. Anyone who is responsible for the roll-out of a fibre network knows this,’ said Jonas Verstuyft, marketing and partner manager at FiberPlanIT. ‘This is no longer the case with the FiberPlanIT Engineer.’
FiberPlanIT Designer generates and optimises high-level designs to reduce the deployment cost. With the Engineer extension, these high-level plans can then be transformed into low-level designs ready for construction. The Engineer automatically creates fibre connections and applies the correct equipment coding. The use of templates makes it easier to generate consistent construction plans, and the software allows last-minute adjustments to the network design to make it ‘field proof’. This allows operators to reduce their network design time and avoid costly mistakes in the field.
Founded in 1989, Digpro (booth B16) has more than 30 years’ experience in geographic information (GIS) technology and is the market leader in Scandinavia. Digpro develops, markets and supports its own geographic information technologies for major industries within the electricity, telecommunications, gas, district heating and water industries, as well as for central and local government – in fact, anyone who builds and maintains various types of networks.
On its booth, the company will showcase its lifecycle management software, which enables operators to track the entire lifecycle of planning and developing a network. A tool for network planning and design, dpCom Designer offers automatic route planning and enables fast and accurate cost estimation. The web app dpWebmap works in concert with dpCom to make the workforce mobile by giving them access to network data out in the field.
Emtelle (booth G11) is a global manufacturer of blown fibre and ducted network products with more than 30 years’ experience. The company offers its FibreFlow range, which includes blown, pulled and pre-connectorised fibre technologies, designed to reduce installation, termination and ongoing costs. In Marseille, Emtelle will present recently launched products, including its QWKconnect, RTRYVA and MultiFu product lines, which have been specifically developed with ease of installation and to reduce the skillset required for fibre deployment. QWKconnect is a pre-connectorised fibre microduct system that requires no fibre blowing or splicing, offering a massively reduced capex for installation equipment. Emtelle’s products have been deployed in various challenging and exciting FTTH projects worldwide, including multiple dwelling units, new and existing builds, and rural projects – including the high-fibre-count cables used for backhauling FTTH connections to local exchanges.
Join GE (booth B41) to learn how its Smallworld network planning and inventory software helps operators stay ahead in today’s hyper-competitive environment where they must continually upgrade their network. Growth often comes from mergers and acquisitions or rapid network expansion through a new technology deployment. This can result in siloed teams solving their own stand-alone issues. Disconnected systems produce fragmented data and inconsistent business processes. When operators work with GE, they’ll no longer think of network inventory as an isolated technology, the company claims. Instead, GE’s Smallworld software addresses this from an integrated, business-oriented perspective. Customers will: make every action count with out-of-the-box capabilities; unify their data to create network consistency; and apply a proven model to reduce time to value.
In addition to exhibiting GE will be co-hosting a workshop: ‘Open access FTTH networks – impact of network planning on creating and realizing the business case’.
http://www.gegridsolutions.com/smallworldtelco
A producer of ducts and pipes for more than 40 years, GM Plast (booth B23) is a pioneer in the field of FTTH installation. The company has been pushing, dragging, blowing and floating in cables into tubes and trenches since the 1990s. On its booth, GM Plast will discuss how to select the most suitable products for a specific deployment, including what size and configuration of microducts make the most sense for that installation.
The company will also share different work methods that have been used, endorsed, and approved by authorities in several countries. GM Plast can discuss installation processes that are less disruptive and less expensive than open trenches: for instance, going through the open landscape using mole ploughing, and low-impact methods for connecting urban areas such as horizontal directional drilling and micro trenching.
HellermannTyton (booth S19) is an established provider of cabling and network infrastructure, offering broad range of quality, high-performance connectivity for both residential and commercial use. The company will once again be exhibiting their wide range of fibre-optic splice closures and FTTH products. Come and visit the booth, where the HellermannTyton team will be happy to discuss the products on display and any requirements you may have. No matter how large the project, HellermannTyton has a solution that meets and exceeds requirements.
This year HellermannTyton will be offering the new fibre facade box as well as a wide range of FTTH products designed to provide fibre connectivity in MDU (multiple dwelling units), MBU (multiple business units) and SDU (single dwelling units) applications. These products include building entry points, floor distribution boxes and customer connection points.
Swiss connectivity specialist Huber+Suhner (booth G02) will be introducing several new products at the FTTH Conference 2017 in Marseille. For central office applications, the company has enhanced its optical distribution frame system ‘LiSA’ to further improve flexibility, practicality and ease of use. The optical switching portfolio from Huber+Suhner’s Polatis division provides additional flexibility for bandwidth-on-demand and better network protection and restoration; and thanks to Huber+Suhner Cube Optics’ extensive DWDM portfolio, the common issue of fibre exhaust can be efficiently overcome.
Huber+Suhner will also launch a pre-connectorised access terminal portfolio designed to enable speedy installation in large apartment buildings, and a new shuttered LC connector, which includes a protective self-closing cap to prevent end-face contamination.
http://fibertothehome.hubersuhner.com
Icotera (booth S02) is a developer of reliable and innovative customer premises equipment (CPE) optimised for fibre to the home. At the conference the company will talk about its unique, proactive trouble-shooting tools, great Wi-Fi capabilities, and how it’s ‘SWAP’ technology allows end users to install or replace CPE in their own homes without an engineering visit.
One of the key features in focus will be the Multicast Analyzer developed for Icotera’s CPEs, which the company claims is unique. It allows internet service providers and network operators to optimise and troubleshoot their networks with ease. In turn, this will help them deliver amazing services to end users and make sure network issues are solved before end users are affected.
John Guest (booth B02) has worked closely with leading FTTH service providers, developing specialised blown fibre connectors to meet the challenging needs of the telecoms market. John Guest is always eager to develop the next big thing that could revolutionise this important industry, and experts on its booth are keen to help operators formulate a bespoke solution for their project.
This year John Guest will be exhibiting blown fibre push-fit connectors that have been specifically developed for use in local loop network and next-generation access applications. The extensive range also includes blown fibre and cable pressurisation systems for aerial or underground use with specialised connectors for gas and water blocking. The 'Speedfit Secure' range features an integral collet-locking feature for additional security in direct-buried applications.
Micos Telcom (booth B7) is pleased to introduce several new products and services for FTTx networks during the FTTH Conference 2017 in Marseille. Underground chambers and smart indoor application for residential houses are only a small selection of the wide range of products on offer. Micos will also showcase its flagship product line, the MTTH range, which includes the optical distribution wall cabinets EASY and UNI. New to the market last year, the modern and stylish design of EASY is both cost-effective and ingenious. Watch the installation video to see how easy it is to install the MTTH EASY box: https://youtu.be/njsodPSgk7E.
Join Nokia at its booth G14 where you’ll see its vision for the future of ultra-broadband access and how operators can use their fibre network to deliver new service offerings that can help unlock additional revenue opportunities. Nokia invites delegate to see its smart home, G.fast, XGS-PON and other next-generation passive optical network (PON) technologies along with mobile transport solutions and gigabit smart build services. Additionally, Nokia will be leading a number of different workshops and sessions providing a unique opportunity to hear from subject matter experts, customers and industry analyst on key topics including: next-generation PON; Passive Optical LAN; software-defined networking (SDN) and rural broadband.
Omelcom (booth B25) supplies a wide range of products for home networks and high-speed internet access. This year at the FTTH Conference Omelcom is showcasing its clever external network testing interface (ENTI) and optical termination point (OTP), which have now been adopted by numerous customers. In addition, the company will introduce two new products: OTP O2 encompasses all the essential features of an optical termination in one stylish and easy-to-use outlet; and OT’Home is a state-of-the-art system that enables the non-obtrusive installation of optical fibre inside the home. Whether new or old, individual or collective, Omelcom says it now has a dedicated connectivity solution for all housing configurations.
At booth G19 R&M will be introducing the multifunctional Polaris Box 6, which meets IP65 and 66 protection class requirements for indoor and outdoor fibre-optic termination. This completes R&M’s product offering for single and multi-dwelling units. Visitors can experience the outstanding features of the box in a playful way with the virtual reality game based around the theme ‘Installers vs. weather disasters’ and can configure Polaris in 3D.
On Thursday 16 February, session 9, Tobias Münzer from R&M will talk about how communication is changing our behaviours in the digital world. In addition to the expanding amount of end-user data, even more data will be created by device-to-device communication. The business models of entire industries will change, and quality and availability of connectivity will be a key factor in their future success. This presentation will discuss the importance of the foundational fibre network.
Senko (booth B27) will be introducing a new range of Micro LC connectors and stackable adapters. The simple bayonet mechanism on the Micro LC connector eliminates the need for finger access to the latch mechanism, allowing connectors to be mounted much closer together than before. The unique combination of small size and bayonet-style connectivity make it the ideal choice for behind-the-wall applications, the company says. Meeting IEC Grade B compatibility, the Micro LC connector is compatible with generic LC connectors, but yields significant space savings. Connectors can be joined both vertically and horizontally, to create an array as large as required, using Micro LC stackable adapters. The stackable adapters can then be inserted into a high-density cassette to create a staggered array to assist with fibre management in densely populated panels and cassettes.
Finnish technology supplier Teleste (booth S22) offers an integrated product and service portfolio that makes it possible to build and run a better networked society. ‘Our solutions bring television and broadband services to your home, secure your safety in public places and guide your use of public transport,’ the company explained.
Teleste will present its range of optical passives for indoor and outdoor installation, including headend and last mile applications. The LGX family of passives offers cost-efficient and versatile options for conditions where operators need high-performing optical functionality. The company will also present its latest pre-assembled street cabinets.
