The decision of the Bonn Supervisory Authority for the telecommunications market is clear: “The free choice of the end device at the network termination point, known from VDSL and cable networks, also applies to fiber optic networks,” says Klaus Müller, Chairman of the Federal Network Agency. They say. In doing so, the regulatory authority is rejecting requests from network operators who wanted to obtain an exception to end device independence.
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Disputed issue of network endpoint
With the passive fiber optic connection (PON) that is common in Germany, a splitter, the optical line terminal (OLT), supplies fiber optic cables to typically 32 or 64 subscribers. The optical signal travels from there to the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) installed at the customer’s premises. It is either an independent signal converter to which the router is connected, or already integrated into a PON-enabled router.
This decision was essentially about the question of where the provider’s network ends and the customer’s device independence begins: is the ONT still part of the operator’s network? Or does it belong to the field of home networks, where consumers have freedom of choice in terms of end devices?
Network operator associations had argued that “the ONT can be viewed as a passive network endpoint, because, although it is fundamentally an active device, the LAN output is passive.” In other words: the fiber optic modem is still part of the operator’s network and independence from the end device starts only from its LAN socket.
“The association’s concerns were never intended to eliminate this freedom of choice,” explains Frederick Ufer, managing director of the Association of Alternative Telecommunications and Value-Added Service Providers (VATM). Rather, it was about problems caused by faulty firmware or connecting devices with unsuitable devices.
The Federal Association of Broadband Communications (BRECO) also views the decision of the Federal Network Agency with regret: “The definition of ONTs as part of the public telecommunications network makes it easier for the network operator to resolve disruptions caused by incompatible equipment and It gets faster.”
Excessive overlighting?
Typical problems cited by network operators include, among other things, that faulty end devices – for example with faulty SFP modules – can cause the splitter (OLT) to automatically shut down due to excessive light signals. Additionally, light signals may be unclear to other customers. It should also be expected that terminal devices do not follow the signal order typical in time division multiplexing (TDM).
In particular, the association feared troubles and customer complaints for which they do not hold themselves responsible for fiber optic router combinations that may come on the market but are unsuitable for providers in Germany – for example when customers switch to AON. Connect devices to the GPON infrastructure.
on wednesday with one announced the decision The Federal Network Agency has made it clear that this remains a problem for customers: anyone who operates unsuitable or faulty hardware and thus disrupts the fiber optic network may, in the worst case, be charged a fine from the provider. Expect to have recourse if the neighborhood goes offline. a result. However, such cases are not yet known in practice.
the market will decide
The Federal Network Agency does not find the arguments put forward valid: it doubts that providers are concerned about users’ interests – consumers “will be interested in the hassle-free and high-quality supply of telecommunications services”, but “perceived interoperability and accessibility Security issues caused by passive network endpoints are “not captured”.
BNetzA hopes that the problems will gradually disappear through routers with built-in GPON modules. This is an expected development in the end customer market – as was the case with cable connections and DSL.
For now, the ball is in the court of fiber optic network operators and device manufacturers: a large part of the problem lies mainly in the coexistence of standards, operating modes and properties that can be barely recognized by ordinary people, which Difficult for average. To understand consumers.
Anyone who wants to connect a fiber optic router directly should currently find out very carefully about their provider as well as the specifications of their end device if they want to use their device.
The Association of Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Manufacturers (VTKE) is satisfied with the decision of the Federal Network Agency: the commitment to free choice of terminal equipment is an “essential positive sign”. The association includes, among others, “fritz” manufacturers AVM, Devolo and Lancome.
(vbr)
