It’s been slow but steady going, but the number of “optical fiber communities” has risen to 70 in 20 states, the Fiber-to-the-Home Council (https://www.ftthcouncil.org) said, citing new data from research firm Render, Vanderslice and Associates (https://www.rendervanderslice.com).
The updated list includes only those communities that are currently providing service to customers, though others are currently in the process of building FTTH networks. The latest analysis suggests that municipalities, public utility districts, new home developments and CLECs are leading the way in the U.S. when it comes to new FTTH developments.
Though “greenfield” developments continue to be prime candidates for FTTH, RV&A suggests that they represent only a small portion of the aggregate FTTH networks already deployed or in the process of being deployed in the U.S.
“If you tally the homes passed so far in these new FTTH communities, nearly 80 percent are overbuilds of existing copper networks,” said Mike Render, principal of RV&A, in a statement.