Deployment of optical fibre in Switzerland
In order to allow the development of proposed services and applications on the internet, the speed and capacity of the network have to increase continuously. Current technology will not be adequate in the long term. The deployment of optical fibre to businesses and households must respond to the challenge of tomorrow's information society. The term "Fibre To The Home" (FTTH) describes the telecommunications network which brings optical fibre to households and businesses.
Optical fibre: higher rates and increased capacity
To connect to the internet, households in Switzerland can currently choose to connect their modem either to the telephone socket or to the cable TV socket. The information then travels through copper wires or co-axial cables which, though currently providing appreciable performance, are subject to fundamental limits. Optical fibre, on the other hand, makes it possible to transmit more data simultaneously and quickly. With an optical fibre connection to the internet, it will be possible to watch high-definition television on one's computer whilst replying to emails, downloading a film or playing games online.Optical fibre is already being deployed in Switzerland. Though households cannot yet benefit directly, optical fibre is used for communications on the long-distance network, for the connection of elements located upstream on the access network (distributors) and for providing services to large businesses or office blocks.
Coordination
Large-scale work is needed to bring optical fibre to homes. In many places, a trench will have to be excavated to lay the cables. Furthermore, the infrastructure will have to be installed both at the provider's premises and those of the end-user. In order to try to avoid a situation in which everyone goes their own way, the Communications Commission (ComCom) and the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) have taken the initiative to bring together all the players in the industry (telecommunications companies, electricity providers, cable operators and landlords) to define the framework conditions which will allow coordinated development of the optical fibre network.
Concrete results
The four working groups which have been set up have achieved some concrete results and issued a series of recommendations. For example, the hardware to be used has been defined which will allow the end-user to switch providers easily. And, for instance, everyone is agreed on the type of socket to be installed in homes. Standardisation efforts at the level of access to the network have also brought concrete results, thereby guaranteeing alternative operators access to optical fibre. Efforts have also been made to define the contracts between providers and landlords, in particular to facilitate competition.
Round tables
Since summer 2008, nine round-table discussions have brought together the heads of companies involved in optical fibre to the home. They have been able to discuss and agree on recommendations drawn up by the various working groups.
FTTH Operator Number
OFCOM administrates the operator numbers which form part of the identification code used to label optical telecommunications outlets in the customer premises. The numbering system is described in full in the ‘Layer 1’ technical guidelines.
OFCOM assigns an operator number to any company requiring one for the construction of FTTH networks. To apply for an operator number the following information:
- company name
- contact person
- company UID
- telecommunications service provider registration number
should be sent to this E-mail address: Contact to specialist
Note: companies that only offer dark fibre and who do not transmit information by means of telecommunications techniques are not telecommunications service providers and do not have to register with BAKOM. They do not require a registration number for the assignment of an operator number.