AGCOM is about to approve a new regulation that will require telecom operators to better describe the technology used to provide broadband and ultra-broadband connectivity to subscribers.How to know what the Internet connection speed will be before taking out a new subscription?In our articles we have often mentioned Fibrapp, an excellent free application for mobile devices that always provides an estimate (usually by default) of the expected download and upload speeds (see the articles TIM fiber coverage: the most useful tools for verifications and SNR: what it is, how to increase it and why it is lowered on ADSL and VDSL).In recent days, AGCOM, the Communications Authority, had confirmed its desire to require Italian telecommunications operators to use a sticker to inform users about the services offered by their connectivity solutions, in each individual specific case. .In the article Fiber coverage, between stamps and correct use of the term we have already seen that the name "fiber" can be used commercially only to refer to FTTH (Fiber-to-the-Home) connectivity, that is to say as much as the fiber optic cable reaches the subscriber's modem router or the limit to FTTB (Fiber-to-the-Basement) connections, i.e. when the fiber cable reaches the limit of the building and for example, reaches the basement or garage for one or more units housing (apartments or villas).In the case of FTTB architectures, the optical fiber from the local exchange is terminated at a locker, at the base of a building, containing the active equipment (ONU) necessary to perform the required transmission and optical-electrical conversion functions.With the aim of making the customer more aware of the technologies used by the provider to bring broadband or ultra-broadband to the properties of end users (individuals or companies), AGCOM has prepared five stamps of different colors and bearing different initials.They are clearly described in attachment C of resolution no.292/18 / CONS that AGCOM published on 19 July 2018.The graphic representation is an example in the sense that the operators will be able to "customize" it without modifying the classification of the various types of connection identified by AGCOM.Like this:- F "fiber" (green color) indicates the infrastructures based on optical fiber up to the real estate unit or the subscriber's building (FTTB and FTTH cases).Best possible configuration, capable of guaranteeing superior performance and enabling ultra-broadband connections.- FR "copper mixed fiber" or "radio mixed fiber" (yellow color) refers to architectures in which the optical fiber is used only up to intermediate nodes (FTTC and FWA cases).- R "copper fiber" or "radio fiber" (red color) indicates those network configurations which do not require the use of optical fiber in the access network and / or which in any case do not enable the use of ultra-broadband services ( traditional ADSL connectivity, HiperLAN and similar).In rural areas that are more difficult to reach, Open Fiber will use fixed wireless (FWA): the installation of antennas will concern, at least according to what has been declared, a small portion of the real estate units located in white or "market failure" areas.The fixed wireless connection will still have a minimum speed of 30 Mbps.In general, however, for FWA solutions we mean those based on WiMAX, HiperLAN, 4G / LTE or 5G.The general FWA architectures use radio technologies to connect a radio base station or radio access point to the subscriber user's fixed terminal.On a commercial level, telecommunications operators will be able to use the term "fiber" (possibly adding adjectives and superlatives; for example "superfibra", "iperfibra" and so on) if and only if the infrastructure is FTTH / FTTB.If the fiber optic cable reaches only intermediate nodes, such as the street cabinet (FTTC, Fiber-to-the-Cabinet) or the radio base station in the case of an FWA link, then operators will no longer be able to use the designation "fiber "If not accompanied by the words" on mixed copper network "or" on mixed radio network ".If the underlying infrastructure does not foresee the use of fiber or in any case does not allow the use of ultra-broadband services, the term "fiber" cannot be used in any case.The stickers must be displayed both in the pre-contractual phase, for example when the user is looking for information on coverage, and in the contract stipulated at the time of purchase of the offer.Not only.Each operator must allow access, by entering his / her address or telephone number, to the following technical information relating to the specific fixed location:1) description of the technical characteristics of the connectivity offer that can be subscribed by the user (physical network architecture, topology and technology) 2) maximum and minimum expected upload and download speed 3) expected latency 4) method of delivery of any service voice (via VoIP or not)In its resolution, AGCOM also mentions FTTN (Fiber-to-the-Node) and FTTE (Fiber-to-the-Exchange).What are these and what types of connections do these access network schemes fall into?The acronym FTTN refers to an access network that uses optical fiber transmission carriers starting from the ODF (Optical Distribution Frame; installed at the exchange or the place where passive connection and permutation equipment of the lines in optical fiber) up to an intermediate node and copper transmission carriers to bind this node and the end user.The intermediate distribution node can coincide with the distribution cabinet of the copper access network (in this case we speak of FTTC access network, Fiber-to-the-Cabinet, widely used by TIM).Access by individual users from a fixed station takes place thanks to the use of transmission protocols and techniques suitable for the copper carrier (VDSL and its evolutions, GFAST and so on).By FTTE access network, on the other hand, we mean an access network that exclusively uses copper transmission carriers starting from the local exchange switch up to the building to be served.These are cases of use of ADSL, SHDSL or VDSL technologies, for example when the user is connected to a rigid network.In the article Rigid network: what it is and why the performance of the connection is lower we have seen why the performance of the connection declared as fiber is much lower on a rigid network.In the case of FTTH, the access network made up of fiber optic transmission carriers for the entire extension of the section that goes from the ODF installed in a local exchange to the network terminal point to which the end user connects.With the acronym OLT (see the diagram in the figure), we refer to the network termination point which indicates the active optical line termination device.In an NGA network it implements, among others, the functionalities of optical-electrical conversion of signals, demodulation, control, multiplexing of the data flows of the end users' devices to the same attestation taking into account the envisaged international standards (such as, for example, G -PON, XG-PON, EPON, and evolutions).Depending on whether it is a point-to-multipoint or point-to-point architecture, an OLT gate controls one or more final terminations downstream (up to 128 up to now over distances of tens of kilometers).Open Fiber has decided to invest heavily in GPON (Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Networks) technologies for its FTTH network: in the future it will therefore be possible to exceed the current limit of 1 Gbps symmetrical to reach 2.5 Gbps in downstream and 1, 25 Gbps upstream with subsequent evolutions:- XG-PON (10 Gbps downstream / 2.5 Gbps upstream) - XGS-PON (10 Gbps downstream / 10 Gbps upstream) - NG-PON2 (minimum 4x10 Gbps downstream / 2.5 Gbps upstream)In the case of the FTTB architecture, as previously mentioned, the only difference with respect to FTTH is that the terminal section of the network, downstream of the termination element of the optical fiber link (ONU), is achieved through the use of copper transmission carriers.At this point we also hope for the approval and ratification of operational agreements between telecommunications companies on vectoring: From ADSL to fiber: what changes and what VDSL and vectoring mean.IlSoftware.it is the Italian website about software.It offers news, articles, tips, insights and reviews on the world of software and technology.A reference point for technicians, professionals and SMEs that helps to make the right choices, solve problems and optimize workflows.To improve the business.We are the first to be demanding, like our readers.© 2001 - 2022 All Software by Nasi Michele - VAT: 02472210547 - All rights reserved - Privacy - Cookie information - Conditions - Credits - ADV Preferences