FTTB - How is this broken off from the local loop?

[Sauro]

Something I've been wondering, but haven't been able to find an answer for.

So a client of ours is getting MetroE services from AT&T who has fiber running along the highway in front of the premises. By what means does AT&T break off of their loop to provide service to this customer? I can't imagine they are giving a dedicated pair to every customer that signs up, but I also know there is no switch at the demarc.

I do know a bit about passive optical splitters, but if these were used wouldn't any customer downstream of the new service install be temporarily offline?

Someone learn me, please!

 

[drebo]

They'll use a MUX and give him a wavelength.

 

[Sauro]

So then anyone else behind that pair will experience temporary downtime while it's broken off?
How long does an install like this take? What's involved?

 

[drebo]

No, the MUX and the splice point already exist. It may be further away than "right outside", so AT&T will run the new cable out to their splice point (potentially though existing conduit, or maybe through a different conduit). They're not going to create a new splice point outside your business (well, they might, if there's enough potential for additional people needing service in the general vicinity, but it'd be only on currently unused pairs).

Whether it's 4 strand or 400 strand fiber, the cost to run it is roughly the same and is far greater than the cost of the cable itself. Their fiber ring is likely extremely dense. Finding a wavelength isn't going to be an issue and it isn't going to cause any disruption in their existing network.

 

[Sauro]

That makes more sense then. So are splice points typically installed every x feet when the fiber is initially laid?

Thank a bunch for your answers.

 

[drebo]

In my experience, there's no rhyme or reason to why and where splice points are built. I'd guess it's typically a question of expediency and convinience.

 

[Specop 007]

That makes more sense then. So are splice points typically installed every x feet when the fiber is initially laid?

Thank a bunch for your answers.

In our case every splice point and drop is determined by customer counts in the area. We wouldnt drop a 50 count fiber (Or whatever they use) into a business district with 2 customers at the end of town and we wouldnt drop a single fiber into the middle of the business district in a downtown area.

I have no idea how ATT does it though.

 

[Sauro]

I'm quite curious as to the splice point's location for this particular drop. The customer is probably the only one being served for 10 or so miles in either direction. Makes me wonder if they would have built out a splice point just for them as I don't imagine any would have existed.

If this fiber was initially laid just as means of transport do you think splice points would have been put in place at all? Is it the case that carrier transport would be kept separate from customer use?

 

[drebo]

AT&T would have already had splice points at various locations, regardless of whether there are customers currently with their service in the area.

The location of those points is likely known only to them. However, if you ask the sales engineer, he might be able to tell you.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[kevnich2]

Yeah I wouldn't worry too much about it. Why does the location of the splicing point matter?

 

[Sauro]

It doesn't matter so much as it is a point of curiosity. I didn't know how this worked at all before making the post. The more I can inform a client the better off we will both be.

Thanks a bunch of y'all's assistance.