Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the installation and use of optical fiber from a central point to individual buildings to provide high-speed Internet access. FTTH significantly increases the connection speeds available to computer users compared to previous-generation technology copper media.

FTTH promises connection speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps). These speeds are 20 to 100 times faster than a typical cable modem or DSL connection. Because it requires installing new sets of wires from the last link where there is now fiber optic cable to individual customers, implementing FTTH at scale can be costly.

There are still some communities that currently have fiber to the curb (FTTC) service. Copper medium is used to transmit signals between households.

The defining characteristic of FTTH is that it connects fiber optics directly to homes, apartment buildings and businesses. FTTH uses fiber optics for most or all of the last mile of telecommunications. Optical fibers transmit data using light signals for higher performance.

In an FTTH access network, fiber optic cables run from the central office and pass through fiber optic diversity hubs. The cable then passes through a network access point (AP) and finally enters the home through a terminal that fits into a junction box.

Two types of systems enable fiber optic cables to use light to transmit data and make FTTH possible: Active Optical Networks (AON) and Passive Optical Networks (PON).

AON uses motorized switching devices to program information to specific users. Instead of using motorized switches, PON uses optical splitters to direct the information. However, PON still requires the use of electrical devices at the source and sink ends of the network.

Both types are used in FTTH implementations and each has advantages, but most FTTH implementations use PONs because of their low installation cost and relatively high performance.

The network expansion of PON consists of the following parts:

Provides Optical Terminals (OLT) for commercial central offices.

Rely on the Optical Network Unit (ONU) at the nearest end-user site.

The optical distribution network between OLT and ONU is used to split and distribute the signals transmitted along the PON.

The main benefit of FTTH is increased network performance. FTTH provides higher speeds over longer distances that older coaxial cables, twisted-pair cables and DSL cannot reach. FTTH also offers significantly higher bandwidth than other connectivity methods.

Some benefits of FTTH's higher bandwidth capacity include the following:

Improved performance for high-definition video streaming on applications like YouTube and Roku.

Upgrades that don't require replacing the fiber. Network professionals can update the infrastructure surrounding the fiber without having to update the fiber itself.

Higher speeds over longer distances than previous technologies.

Better performance than other fiber configurations. Fiber directly connects to residences and can complete remaining network segments with Ethernet or coaxial cables.

FTTH is a specific version of the term fiber to the x (FTTx), in which the x represents the point in the network at which a fiber optic cable connects to provide service to buildings in the vicinity. In each term, the place where optical fiber stops and transfers the signal to metallic cable begins differs. All versions of FTTx are the driving force behind next-generation access, which means an upgrade to the speed and quality of broadband networks.

FTTH's name comes from the fact that the cable connects directly to the user's home. Network professionals often use the terms fiber to the building (FTTB) and fiber to the premises (FTTP) interchangeably with FTTH. The network structure is the same, and the words home, building and premises all describe dwellings to which fiber networks directly connect.

A small distinction between FTTH and FTTB is that FTTH connects optical fibers directly to residences, and one building could have multiple residencies. In FTTB, the optical fibers connect to the building and metallic cables connect to the individual units -- such as homes or offices -- inside.

Several other versions of FTTx exist:

Fiber to the node (FTTN). A setup in which the optical fiber connects to the network cabinet or node and passes the signal to copper wire at that point.

Fiber to the terminal (FTTT). Fiber optic cables connect directly to desktop equipment in an office.

Fiber to the office. Similar to FTTT, a fiber optic cable connects to a mini switch at a users' desk in an office. The office usually has several switches throughout the building, managed from one central location.

Fiber to the street (FTTS). FTTS falls between FTTB and FTTC; FTTS transitions to copper wire closer than FTTC but farther away than FTTB, which attaches directly to the building.

Fiber to the distribution point (FTTdp). FTTdp is a mix between FTTC and FTTN. The end of fiber connects to the last possible distribution point before the end user's premises.

Many other acronyms in the FTTx category exist. But the only major distinction between them is the point at which the fiber cabling ends and the metallic wiring begins.

Fixed wireless differs slightly from FTTH. Instead of switching from fiber optics to a metallic cable at the fiber endpoint, fixed wireless transmits a wireless signal into the home. This eliminates the need for cabling at the last segment of the network, where most costs incur during installation.

FTTH has grown since the 1980s to accommodate the growing network demands of the modern world. Many fiber cables implemented in the 1980s are still in use today, which is a testament to their flexibility over time. Since the 1980s, fiber technology has become cheaper and easier to install. Today, usage of FTTH and fiber optics continues to increase.

Editor's note: This article was reformatted to improve the reader experience.