FttDP – The facts we know

There has been alot of media coverage of the NBN of late, in particular with some revelations in Senate estimates this week (March 15-17 2016) from NBN, relating to Fibre To The Distribution Point (FttDP) or “Multi Technology Local Fibre Network (MT-LFN)”

I hope this summary helps people with their understanding of what is being said, and the position of NBN and the government of the day.

‘Skinny Fibre’ coupled with FttDP has been trialled:

At senate estimates this week NBN asked DR. SU-VUN CHUNG from CORNINGS OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS to demonstrate ‘skinny fibre’ coupled with a FttDP module as part of NBN adding FttDP to their ‘Multi Technology Mix” products.

FttDP will be used on runs longer than 1km:

NBN CEO Bill Morrow stated on 21 October 2015

If there is a copper loop length that goes too far beyond the 25Mbps capability — so call that roughly 1km … we could look at the cost of actually pulling fibre down and using what we call fibre to the distribution point, which is still not taking fibre all the way up to the house, but brings fibre closer to the home, to where that copper loop length is much less.

FttDP will be used in remote areas, with lead ins between 50-300 metres:

NBN announced that they would conduct a 3 month trial in Sydney, Melbourne, and other capital cities across the country next month, with the intent that

..premises in more remote areas, with lead-ins of between 50 metres and 300 metres, where it is too expensive to roll out either fibre to the node (FttN) or fibre to the premises (FttP) — it is putting forward FttDP.

NBN estimates they will use FttDP in about 300,000 premises:

NBN expects to begin deploying FTTdp to homes during 2017.  “When we look at from 2017 on, we see around 300,000 cases where this is more feasible than FTTN, or in some cases fixed wireless,” Morrow said.

NBN is committed to rolling out FTTN as the cheapest technology solution for the NBN:

NBN has stated an ongoing commitment to FTTN as being the cheapest and fastest way to connect end users:

At present FTTN remains the fastest and most cost effective end-user way for nbn to connect end-users,” the company said. FTTN cost per premises is $2,300 as stated in our corporate plan and financial results.

The ALP has yet to announce its NBN policy, however it is clear FttDP will be the main element of their policy.

Gleneagles Estate NBN Committee