The network implemented by Open Fiber aims to ensure citizens, businesses and public administration an ultra-fast connection in FTTH – Fiber To The Home technology, thus providing access to the most innovative digital services.
The optical fiber cabling process starts by signing an agreement between the municipality involved in the implementation, management and maintenance of a new generation ultra-broadband optical fiber network infrastructure and Open Fiber.
The agreement, signed with local authorities, defines the work methods and timing (which may differ depending on the municipality), technical and safety standards to minimize inconvenience to citizens during the works and excavation methods for laying the optical fiber cables.
Traditional excavation is envisaged only when none of the other solutions can be used.
After having obtained all the administrative permits and authorizations, the activities that will bring optical fiber to the home begin.
In this phase, also called “walk out“, we carry out all the activities for collecting useful information for definition of the project, such as counting the buildings to be cabled, the number of property units (PU) in a building and the individual homes in a given street.
Subsequently, we evaluate the possibility of laying the fiber using the existing infrastructure (ducts, electricity lines, etc.) or the need to carry out new works. Also in this phase, the communication forms are issued (e.g. Notice of commencement of works, Authorisation to lay and operate the FTTH optical fiber network implemented in the municipality, Authorisation to access the building, etc.), some of which are addressed to local authorities while others to the condominium administrator or owner of the individual homes/ businesses.
Once the forms have been collected, the internal survey is carried out by inspecting the buildings. This phase is also called the “walk in”. If civil works are required, an authorization is issued which must be completed by the natural person or local authority concerned.
Once we have all the necessary information and documentation, we implemented a “preliminary project” in which we define the works to be carried out, the type of excavation, the dimensioning of the fiber cables and the location of the SFP – secondary flexibility point – street cabinet. With the approval of the project, the latter becomes final and authorization is requested from the competent offices.
The implementation of the FTTH connection system takes place in the Creation phase. This is a process through which the Points of Presence (PoP) are connected to specific Property Units (up to 90,000) using optical fiber.
In this phase, the work of laying the fiber, installing the SFP (secondary flexibility point) street cabinet and the Building Termination Point (BTP) or the Advanced Termination Point (ATP) to reach individual homes, offices, businesses and public administration is carried out.
What does the Creation phase consist of?
Section testing: the optical junctions are implemented to provide continuity from the PoP to all the PUs. The sections are then tested, followed by the delivery process, in which the optical fiber network is opened up to the operators.
The implementation of a full-fiber telecommunications infrastructure also includes a phase dedicated to the restoration of the road surface, This is a subsequent step that follows installation of the FTTH network and whose implementation will take place with minimum inconvenience to citizens, trying to be as noninvasive as possible, also at the environmental level.
How does restoration take place?
Restoration envisages two distinct phases:
What happens when the road is restored for optical fiber works?
Before starting any activity, it is essential to inform users about the phases and timing of the works to restore the road surface. The complete process envisages these well-defined steps:
To activate the service, the end customer – depending on the city in which the latter is located – must directly contact the preferred operator (check our partners here), and choose among the various offers available. Once the contract has been concluded with the operator, it is up to the latter to contact Open Fiber to begin the last installation phase, i.e. to bring the fiber from the BTP to the customer’s home.
In the last phase of the process, Open Fiber receives an “Activation Request” from an operator with all the customer information, books the network resources and contacts the customer with an unencrypted number from the fixed network. Together they fix the date and time slot of the appointment for the technician to intervene at the user’s home. The duration of the intervention is approx. 2-3 hours. This time begins when the technician arrives at the customer’s home.
The activities at the customer’s home are the following: