Reducing the costs of FTTH networks by optimized splitter and OLT card deployment

In this paper, a problem of rational splitter and OLT card installation in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks is considered. We assume that the most tedious part of FTTH network deployment, i.e., trenching and cable installation, is completed, and the operator can start to connect customers to the network. The connecting process still requires expenditures for both passive (splitters) and active (ONUs, OLT cards) equipment. In this paper, we define the problem of rational splitter and OLT card deployment and present the multi-state optimization (MuSO) approach to handle it. MuSO minimizes the expected total cost of deployment using a stochastic model; thus, it optimizes under stochastic behavior. Finally, we compare MuSO to other rational methods, numerically validating its efficiency. We also investigate the impact of various factors—e.g., the take-up rates assumed when designing a network, delays in providing service to newly acquired customers, optimization time limits—on the final FTTH network deployment cost. The presented methodology not only can be used to minimize the deployment cost of FTTH networks, but also to assess the impact of uncertainty on network designs returned by automated methods.