The FTTH Council Europe, which supports the deployment of true superfast 100Mbps+ (Megabits per second) fibre optic Fibre-to-the-Home ( FTTH ) broadband ISP infrastructure, has this week released its latest annual global ranking of Ftth deployments. As usual the UK is nowhere to be seen.The ranking only includes countries where at least 1% of homes have an FTTH/B connection (i.e. when the fibre optic cable is taken directly up to your doorstep for top speeds). At the end of 2011 some 30 countries had made the grade (up from 21 at the end of 2009), although the lack of additions from Europe appears to be causing some concern.
Chris Holden, President of the Ftth Council Europe, said:
"We are concerned that there is no new entrant from Europe. On the positive side we see a steady growth in our region. Still there is a long way to go to reach the Digital Agenda targets of the European Union to ensure that more than 50% of the European households will use broadband connections of 100 Mbit/s or more in 2020."
"We are concerned that there is no new entrant from Europe. On the positive side we see a steady growth in our region. Still there is a long way to go to reach the Digital Agenda targets of the European Union to ensure that more than 50% of the European households will use broadband connections of 100 Mbit/s or more in 2020."
Meanwhile South Korea continues to lead, at least in terms of market penetration, with FTTH reaching 58% of the country's homes. The United Arab Emirates came next on 56%, Hong Kong had 45%, Japan followed with 42% and Taiwan hit 29%.
However, when it comes to the total number of Ftth connections, Japan tops the pack with 22.2 Million subscribers and China follows with 16.9 Million. After them it's South Korea (10.4 million), United States (9.6 million) and Russia (4.5 million). A low-res copy of the ranking can be found below (we've linked to a high-res one at the bottom of this article).
Europe (EU+8) is understood to have added more than 600,000 new subscribers since the last June 2011 report, which brings the regional total to 5.1 million subscribers or almost 28 million homes passed (covered). This is more widely representative of a 41% annual growth rate.
Alas the UK is notable by its absence from the rankings, although this is hardly surprising. True FTTH/B deployments in the UK from BT , CityFibre Holdings , NextGenUs , B4RN , Hyperoptic and a number of other projects have only just begun.
Meanwhile most of the UK's "superfast" (i.e. 24Mbps+ by government definitions) service deployments have so far been dominated by slower hybrid FTTC services from BT and cable solutions from Virgin Media that aren't included above.
High Resolution Copy of the Global FTTH/B Ranking 2011 (PDF)
http://s.ftthcouncil.org/files/2012_global_ranking_ftth_all_countries_0.pdf
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Comments: 26
New_LondonerPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 8:47 AM
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Given the high penetration of FTTP/B in some of these countries, you'd have thought that the average download speeds reported by Akamai and others would be many times faster than in the UK. Just goes to show that there is much more to it than fast transport from the building to the exchange or equivalent. If the bandwidth is shared by many (as it is with the FTTB deployments), or the backhaul is not up to scratch then the local fibre link does not really make a great deal of difference,
MarkJPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 8:58 AM
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Don't forget that most other countries also offer FTTH packages with different tiered speed/usage limited options (i.e. slower and cheaper deals for those that don't want to pay full whack for the fastest connection).
cyberdoylePosted: 17 February, 2012 - 9:01 AM
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digitalbritain? its a joke. We won't be digital until we break the chains tying us to the old phone lines.
Billy LiarPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 9:30 AM
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@new_londoner
^What Mark says, plus the investment strategy is entirely different from the UK. Other countries have taken the approach of actually investing in the 'end game'. The infrastructure they are investing in will last a generation (or two). The UK seem keen on investing in only the next 5 to 10 years and then starting from scratch all over again. I can see the appeal if you already have a rather large legacy network...
New_LondonerPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 9:40 AM
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@Billy
I can see what you're saying but with FTTC soon to go up to 80Mbps and FTTP on demand in FTTC areas from next year, (IIRC should be 40%+ of the population by then), that's a lot of availability.
FibreFredPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 10:46 AM
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Why are people surprised we are not listed? Apart from a few small areas no-one has FTTH/FTTB, so why is this a shock?
Once FTTP on demand is launched we will see UK figures increase, but ONLY if people want to take up that service, if there is no demand we won't be listed, simple as that.
zemadeiranPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 12:34 PM
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Spotted an Openreach engineer blowing four strand fiber in west London yesterday :)
http://i44.tinypic.com/2bun3p.jpg
BT have massive amounts of dark fiber ready to rock. FTTP is really commercial suicide as it will undermine BT's lucrative leased lines etc.
They should now be concentrating on becoming a world class/leading infrastructure company by setting an example in the UK which they can then replicate across Europe and monopolise their markets which in turn boosts the UK economy and our standard of living.
We really need to focus selling to other countries thus bringing more money into the UK :)
If you simply focus on your home market the economy will stagnate as the money just goes round and round in circles.
Regards to all and good weekend.
DeductionPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 2:24 PM
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quote"I can see what you're saying but with FTTC soon to go up to 80Mbps and FTTP on demand in FTTC areas from next year, (IIRC should be 40%+ of the population by then), that's a lot of availability."
The FTTH Council does not look at FTTC services for any country only FTTH/FTTP solutions and it remains to be seen if BTs FTTP "on demand" product will meet its criteria either. Currently the only BT product which does meet their criteria is their GEA based FTTH product.
Your 40% figure is optimistic also, if i recall correct there are 25-30 million homes in the UK and BTs FTTC currently reaches only around 7 million of them. Meaning in less than a year (thats using your "from next year" criteria) they will have to pass around another 5 million homes to reach your 40% this by end this year.
Good luck with that is all i can say.
DeductionPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 2:29 PM
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Even if the FTTH council decide to include BTs FTTP "on demand" product its still unlikely to impact on these results. Your typical residential customer is not going to pay (and this is BTs words not mine) several hundreds of pounds for an install. Not even 10% of BTs customer base has FTTC let alone additional expense of the "on demand" offering.
This country is doomed for minimum of 5 years and more than likely nearer 20 years. Best broadband in europe ROFL.
New_LondonerPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 3:23 PM
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@Deduction
I believe there are approx. 26 million properties, 40% of that is 10.4 million, so around 3 million or so to go based on the last published numbers.
Why are we doomed if FTTP is available but not required by the majority? Different story if there was demand but not supply, don't really see a problem the other way round.
New_LondonerPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 3:58 PM
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Contd.
In terms of "Best broadband in Europe by 2015"
If FTTP on demand is available anywhere FTTC is, by 2015 FTTP should be available to at least 70% of the population. Whether any of us choose to use it when we can also get FTTC with speeds of up to 80Mbps (possibly faster still by then?) is another matter.
This wouldn't put us high up a league table from the FTTH Council (mainly equipment vendors I think?). I don't really see an issue though as long as we have access to very high bandwidth services when we decide we need them.
DeductionPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 4:19 PM
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Oh there is no doubt FTTC will reach a fair chunk of the population (we can argue on figures but its not really needed i agree in the end around 70% maybe more will be able to have it.)
My point was more a case of even if all of us had a true FTTH solution the only figures its likely to help is the homes passed figure.
Its not going to help in terms of our countries average speed or actual subscriber figures due to costs. Or in other words for the most part FTTC, FTTP or the "on demand" product is not going to make much difference to our position in FTTH councils data. and thus this country wont be "best" by definition.
New_LondonerPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 5:00 PM
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@Deduction
I don't think the "Best in Europe" thing hasn't been defined, and hopefully the govt. wouldn't be conned into something like "top of the FTTH Council Europe" league table as this is an investion by a bunch of equipment vendors with an obvious vested interest.
The way I look at it, if my broadband does what I want it to, and I have upgrade options should I need them, then I'll be happy that it meets my needs. Whether its FTTP, FTTC, LTE, cable or something else shouldn't really come into the equation.
Better if any definition focuses on availability, capability, reliability and price (affordability) than on something inane like the choice of media for the local loop.
FibreFredPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 5:00 PM
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We are doomed if BT make FTTH available to the masses but people don't want it?
Hmmm
You can't drag a horse to water.... or should FTTH installs be free?
DeductionPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 5:32 PM
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FTTH GEA should not be free.
The FTTP "on demand" product/variants which if anything is what will make any impact on these FTTH council figures it remains unseen as to how much that should cost per install (we dont even know how BT will calculate the install price per person unlike the GEA product) if anything at all. That product may also still be subject to more government funding (are you saying people should pay twice to have it rolled out to them?).
FTTC depending on where you buy/contract lengths/offers etc already has products out their where the install fee is waived. (normally if you buy addon frills, take a longer contract, other restrictions to service).
Until BT state how they are going to calculate how much a FTTH "on demand" INSTALL should cost its impossible to say if its fair or if it there should be any charge. Do you know something they dont about costs?
DeductionPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 5:39 PM
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quote"Better if any definition focuses on availability, capability, reliability and price (affordability) than on something inane like the choice of media for the local loop."
We lose on availability, FTTC doesnt even reach 50% of homes yet compared to other areas of the globe we lag behind. Reliability remains unseen (not enough FTTC or FTTP connections in the UK yet to tell its reliability).
Capability doesnt even really factor, Most connections in the UK will be FTTC, and no matter how great you think speed boosts to that are its never going have the capability of countries that employ full FTTH solutions.
Price here is one area we are not crushed on (people moan about price but its not that bad compared to some places).
Choice of next gen systems employed will play a part in how good or whos network is "best".
Our country is in no way gonna be best, good maybe, best errr NO!
BobPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 5:45 PM
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The real problem is outside the VM casbled areas BT faces pretty much zero competition at the wholesale level. For things to improve in the UK there needs to be another major playerr at the wholesale level.
At present BT outside of VM areas has no competion so can continue to roll out at a slow rate an obsolesent technology
New_LondonerPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 6:01 PM
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@Bob
As VM doesn't wholesale (IMO it should, its customers woudl certainly benefit from retail competition on its network), the level of competition at the wholesale level does not rely on its presence.
Take your general point at the infrastructure level although, as I've commented before, I absolutely don't agree with your comment about an obsolete network and the implication that cable is not.
In my view cable is fine for slow-medium broadband speeds, is totally unsuited to download higher speeds, especially when combined with increased upload speeds too.
Rather than a protracted and probably fruitless debate, suggest we revisit this in 12 months or so and see how many more cable networks in the UK are struggling with poor performance as relatively few users on the 50Mb+ services overwhelm the capacity, cause growing unhappiness amongst the customer base.
FibreFredPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 6:48 PM
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I think the FTTP on demand will be a install charge of a £100 or so and then most of the install cost hidden in a longer contract, either way it is going to cost BT something in labour / materials to provide it so it has to be paid for somehow.
I don't know anything about any costs its not even a product is it? Not until 2013
You can't really compared FTTC in terms of install because "all it is" is work at the cab and then a new faceplate. FTTP is obviously a different kettle of fish, multiple engineers, fibre blown or pole delivered etc, has to be paid for somehow.
By 2013 people will still be settling into FTTC, I don't see people taking up FTTP so some time
Bob2002Posted: 17 February, 2012 - 9:39 PM
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@FibreFred
FTTP for a £100 install fee seems a bit low even with a contract that's longer than usual. Another more pessimistic guess comes from ThinkBroadband -
Andrew Ferguson, editor of Thinkbroadband.com, said installation fees for FTTP could be as high as £1,000, while subscription to a 300Mbps service could cost more than £80 per month. Unlike with a copper connection, however, this is a guaranteed connection speed.
Personally I think I'd be happy with a reliable FTTC connection unless BT could make a tempting FTTP offer.
FibreFredPosted: 17 February, 2012 - 10:37 PM
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Yeah maybe it is a bit low but it will have to be affordable, we'll see I guess.
DeductionPosted: 18 February, 2012 - 1:45 AM
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I doubt it will be what most deem affordable. And that is half the issue, if its too expensive to have nobody will have it.
Its like saying Ferraris are available to anyone..... Just hardly anyone has one due to cost. Pointless having a product that nobody can afford, even worse in the case of broadband as the powers that be unlike ferraris want us all driving online.
Newlondoners old VM vs BT debate is stupid they both have problems in certain areas, both can suffer congestion, NO ORGANISATION including BT are immune to it, no matter how many times he thinks they are.
Virgin in any survey (doesnt matter who its from) still top the AVERAGE speed charts for this country so its obviously not falling to pieces as some would like others to believe. Congested in some areas maybe, but the same can be said for a few BT exchanges that regularly have issues (see BT forums).
DeductionPosted: 18 February, 2012 - 1:48 AM
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I actually hope it is £100 install fibrefred :) at that price BT can sign me up...... However i think its wishful thinking.
zemadeiranPosted: 19 February, 2012 - 12:34 AM
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Docsis limitations with are a non issue on par with FTTC.
Network evolution from copper to fiber is inevitable and straight forward when we reach limits. VM will have not choice but to upgrade the coax to fiber and deliver their services with pure tcp/rtp.
On a personal note, I live in a west London block with 80 flats. My question is, should we own our fiber? Should we get a company in to install GPON to everyone's front door?
Tenants can then decide whether or not to run the last few meters to a fiber cpe.
Ownership of the network is also important and is a factor that many here are missing. You want a fiber connection? Why not get together and install it yourselves?
If a service provider can give you a 10gbps pipe why not?
New_LondonerPosted: 21 February, 2012 - 7:09 AM
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@zemadeiran
Surely the main issue in the tenants putting in their own GPON fibre network is that you'll then all be limited to the same service provider, rather than each being free to choose your own?
DeductionPosted: 22 February, 2012 - 1:23 AM
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In many modern flats and apartments you are not free to choose your provider. They have their own distribution point the telephone system to each apartment (much like for TV with an Aerial on the roof of the flats or a cable system in place).
Also not free to choose in many older developments which have an outdated almost switchboard like system.
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