The Federal Network Agency will probably not fulfill the heartfelt wish of network operators: The regulatory authority does not want to redefine the technical network termination for fiber optic networks and place it behind the operator’s modem. This is revealed by a draft decision published by the Federal Network Agency on Wednesday. This would mean that so-called router independence would also be retained for fiber optic connections.
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The network operator associations Anga, Breco, Buglas, VATM as well as the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU) and Vodafone had requested that the network termination for fibre optic networks (FTTH) be determined by general decree behind the modem installed by the operator. For DSL and cable networks, the termination point is the socket on the wall. This also applies to fibre optic connections so far.
Your router on a fiber optic network?
This allows customers to operate their own modem/router combination on their connection. Network operators say confidentially that only a small number of customers actually make this choice. The vast majority get a device from their provider – and pay for it. Still, router independence is a thorn in the side of network operators. They would still like to regain control with new fibre optic connections.
However, the Federal Network Agency is apparently not willing to comply with this request. “The legal definition of a passive network termination point for access to public telecommunications networks at fixed locations has not changed for PON fiber optic networks,” The draft decision of the authority says. Applications from network operators are “rejected”.
Network operators justified their applications, which were controversial not only in the IT industry, by saying that the customer’s connection could only be addressed via the modem’s Ethernet interface. In addition, with customer-operated hardware, there is a risk of interference for a large number of other customers in the same connection area.
The Federal Network Agency does not accept this. A spokesperson for the Federal Network Agency told Heise Online that the authorization was guided by the guidelines of the Board of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (Gerec). The applicants “have not yet proven” the “objective technical necessity to move the network endpoint” required therein.
“Not so likely to cause disruption”
“So far, only a few documented examples have been provided of the type of interference that was feared, which should be prevented by relocating the network termination point,” explains a spokesperson for the Federal Network Agency. “The test regime shows that gigabit passive optical networks (GPONs) are not as sensitive to interference as applicants claim, and that GPONs can be designed to be robust enough to be less susceptible to interference.”
The Federal Association of Broadband Communications (Breco) sees it differently and speaks of a “risky bet” for users, given the decision of the Federal Network Agency. “The authority does not rule out that disruptions may occur, which the authority itself estimates could affect up to 32 users,” says Sven Knapp, head of the Breco Capital office. “We assume the possibility of a high risk because all end customers on a common port – from 32 to 128 – could be affected.”
Deutsche Telekom did not join the applicants. In a statement, the company recommended “rejection of all three applications”. Those in Bonn do not agree with the conclusion that “deviation from the passive network termination point is necessary”. Telekom itself operates “a very large number of FTTH connections”, where the passive network connection “operates without any noticeable disruption and where end customers exercise their right on customer-owned end equipment, including modems”.
As is usual in such proceedings, the Federal Network Agency is giving affected companies until August 26 to submit “final statements”. Network operators now need good arguments if they want to change the regulatory authority’s mind. Please only submit new arguments, the Federal Network Agency says: “In order to make it easier to focus on points that have not yet been raised, statements on previously published statements on the application will also be published.”
(vbr)
