Questions & answers on fiber optics from T Wholesale

In contrast to copper (DSL), fiber optics (FTTH) is significantly faster as an Internet connection and enables surfing and streaming at high speeds. Compared to other connection methods, it offers consistently high upload and download speeds with bandwidths of up to 1,000 Mbit/s – in some areas even up to 2,000 Mbit/s are now possible.

Fiber-optic technology is well advanced and requires less energy and resources than copper cable.

Fiber optics are less susceptible to interference.

• FTTH (Fiber To The Home): Here, the fiber-optic line runs directly into the home. This allows for even faster download speeds compared to FTTC and FTTB.
• FTTB (Fiber To The Building): With this technology, the fiber-optic line runs into the house, but ends in the basement at the termination point line technology (APL). The connection of the individual subscriber connections is then carried out with the help of the usually already available copper or patch cables. Depending on the building technology, maximum speeds of 1 Gbit/s can also be achieved with FTTB connections.
• FTTC (Fiber To The Curb): FTTC is a broadband connection variant in which the fiber-optic cables are laid up to the distribution box in the sidewalk area. From this location, the cable path to the junction box in the room wall is bridged with a copper cable. With an FTTC connection, the VDSL Internet is available to the end user. The conversion of optical signals into electrical signals takes place in the multifunctional housing (MFG), which is located in the familiar grey boxes at the roadside.

Fiber optics offers fast upload and download speeds, low latencies and is resistant to electromagnetic waves. This makes sophisticated, parallel online applications possible with fiber optics. This is one of the biggest differences to the old copper technology, where interference can occur under heavy load on the grids.

For both private and business customers, connecting a property to the fiber-optic network has decisive advantages:

• Increase in the value of the property
• Sustainable upgrading
• Future-proof multimedia infrastructure
• Simple and fast installation by Deutsche Telekom
• Stability even when many applications are used in parallel
• Uploads and downloads run without noticeable delays
• Future-proof for higher bandwidths

Since the optical transmission takes place without active components, no power is required in the distribution boxes. This is particularly environmentally friendly. In addition, fiber optics is more space-saving and lighter than, for example, a copper cable, which means that the production of fibers for fiber-optic rollout is less resource-intensive.

Deutsche Telekom is pushing ahead with its fiber-optic rollout and more and more customers are switching to fiber optics. However, it will be a long time before every household can really use fiber optics. Deutsche Telekom is therefore not planning a possible copper network switch-off (DSL switch-off), both regionally and nationwide. And even in areas where fiber optics already exist, DSL coverage will continue to be available as long as consumers want it.

Deutsche Telekom warns against hasty switch-off plans.

Further information on the topic of "copper-glass migration" can be found in Section 34 of the Telecommunications Act.

• To establish a direct connection to the fiber-optic network (FTTH) in a property – be it a privately used house or a company building – the following components are required:
  • House handover point (HÜP or Gf-AP)
  • Fiber-Optic Subscriber Line (Gf-TA)
  • Fiber optic modem (ONT) / router if necessary
  • To start with, the fiber-optic cable runs through the transfer point (HÜP), which is located inside the building. This is usually located in the basement and is also called a fiber-optic termination point (Gf-AP).
• From then on, a cable (the so-called riser) connects the HÜP with the collection points of the fiber-optic network in large houses. These are individual connections that are installed on each floor, for example.
• Individual apartments or offices will receive the fiber-optic subscriber line (GF-TA), which is fixed in the wall similar to the junction box for analog telephone connections. From then on, you need a fiber-optic modem that acts as a node between the GF-TA and the router, converting optical signals into electrical signals. The router is the last point, though which high-speed Internet is then directly obtained.

Further information at (German): https://www.telekom.de/hilfe/downloads/glasfaser-technik.pdf

All your end customer needs is a Wi-Fi router, which he or she has to connect to their fiber-optic socket for the FTTH connection. In the current devices, the routers already have a corresponding modem, so that they are suitable for an FTTH connection. If the router is over 5 years old, it probably does not have this connection and accordingly cannot be used for surfing the fiber-optic network.

• A so-called Optical Network Termination (ONT), usually referred to as a fiber-optic modem. The ONT converts the optical signals from the line into electrical signals for the router. For use in the Deutsche Telekom network, the technical specification 1TR112 applies.

Your customer can connect a router without an integrated fiber-optic modem to the ONT, possibly also his existing device. Some examples of commercially available devices are:

• Speedport Smart, Smart 2, 3 and 4
• Speedport Pro and Pro Plus
• Digitization box Smart 2 and Premium 2
• FRITZ! Box 7490, 7530 (AX) and 7590 (AX)

A solution with a router with an integrated fiber-optic modem is more convenient. Your customer does not need an ONT and can connect his/her router directly to the fiber-optic socket (GF-TA). Some examples of commercially available devices here are:

• Speedport Smart 4 Plus (Speedport Smart Fiber)
• Speedport 7 Series
• FRITZ! Box 5530 Fiber and 5590 Fiber
• Note: For fiber-optic 2000 connections (currently only available in specific areas), only the AVM FRITZ! Box 5530 Fiber (Edition XGS-PON) is suitable.
   

You have the flexibility to choose where traffic is transferred to your infrastructure:

• Internet connectivity as a full service: Traffic is managed entirely by Deutsche Telekom, and there is no need to transfer it to its own infrastructure.
• Network interconnection point for maximum concentration of data traffic at a central point.
• Layer 3 handover (IP-based) for an aggregated handover to 11 core network locations throughout Germany.
• Layer 2 handover (VULA/Ethernet Access) for a regional handover to approx. 900 Ethernet network nodes nationwide.

You can find more information here.

The displayed fiber-optic rollout status always refers to the entire property or to a single part of the building, if there are several parts of the building. If there are several household and business locations (HHUStO) in a building, it is not always possible to determine clearly based on the availability data whether the respective HHUStO is already equipped with a fiber-optic socket (status: ready).

In these cases, the end customer should also check whether a fiber-optic socket is already available in his/her HHUStO:

If so: you can start the ordering process directly with a connected order.

If not: a Not Connected order is required to establish the fiber-optic connection including the Gf-TA at the end customer.

FB-Access Working Manual (German).

You can find the latest information on Deutsche Telekom's fiber-optic rollout in the Telekom Special "Networks" (German).

Yes! FTTH offers future-proof, ultra-fast internet connections, higher bandwidths, better stability and lower latency.
You can offer competitive rates and innovative services, increase customer satisfaction and strengthen your market position.

That depends on how many customers you want to hook. T Wholesale offers various attractive pricing models. In general, the higher the purchase quantity, the better the prices.

Further information can be found here.

To be able to generate NetAdds quickly, it is recommended to book to addresses that are already supplied with fiber optics (rollout status "HomesReady"). Especially, if the end customer has already installed a fiber-optic socket (Gf-TA) in his/her home, an immediate provision ("connected" order) can be set.

Changing providers in connection with an FTTH rollout requires good coordination, as the fiber-optic infrastructure must first be laid to the end customer's home before the actual connection can be switched.

1. Set a "Not Connected" order to establish connectivity for your end customer via the Wholesale IT Architecture (WITA). This will result in the fiber-optic rollout, and finally the installation of the fiber-optic socket (Gf-TA) at the end customer. This step can take a few weeks to months, depending on the status of the rollout.
2. As soon as the fiber-optic socket has been installed at your end customer's premises or as soon as it is foreseeable that the installation will take place in the near future, confirm the "Connected" order by stating the pre-coordination ID and the planned customer request date (KWT).
3. You can coordinate with the submitted provider via the WITA Based Carrier Interface (WBCI).
4. The coordinated business case "Provider Change" is available to you as part of the "Connected" order if you change within the FTTH technology.

FTTH is suitable for private and business customers.

When ordering for business customers, our Wholesale IT Architecture (WITA) products are available to you. You can find additional information on individual solutions for your business customers under Network solutions for B2B.

Deutsche Telekom is striving to supply all of Germany with fiber optics. Since this is an infrastructure project that no network operator can manage on its own, Deutsche Telekom is relying on various cooperations.

These partnerships make an essential contribution to the digitization of Germany. The logic behind every fiber-optic cooperation: Partners can benefit from each other's strengths and develop their full potential with synergies to make the rollout more efficient. Each cooperation is therefore a step towards more fiber optics for Germany. To put it simply: In network cooperations for fiber-optic rollout, one plus one equals more than two.

Deutsche Telekom's rollout strategy is based on three pillars for the rollout of the fiber-optic network in Germany:

• Self-financed rollout
• Subsidized rollout
• Rollout in cooperation

As a wholesale partner, you also benefit from these cooperations, as these cooperation areas become part of Deutsche Telekom's central marketing footprint. This means that the other market participants can access the network and offer their products to their customers at fair and customary market conditions.

In addition, there are joint ventures in which Deutsche Telekom establishes a joint rollout company with a partner. The founded company operates independently and accelerates the fiber-optic rollout through its activities. The footprint of these joint ventures is not included in Deutsche Telekom's central marketing footprint, but is considered independently. If you are interested in placing an order in a JV area, there is the possibility of agreeing a separate contract with the respective company.

This depends on whether we have entered into a cooperation in this area. If this is the case, you can also order fiber-optic connections from us for your end customers.

These partnerships make an essential contribution to the digitization of Germany. The logic behind every fiber-optic cooperation: Partners can benefit from each other's strengths, and synergies can develop their full potential. The rollout is more efficient. Each cooperation is therefore a step towards more fiber optics for Germany. To put it simply: In network cooperations for fiber-optic rollout, one plus one equals more than two.

For the rollout of the fiber-optic network in Germany, Deutsche Telekom is relying on three pillars:

• Self-financed rollout
• Subsidized rollout
• Rollout in cooperation

In this context, rollout cooperation means that Deutsche Telekom builds and/or operates regionally limited parts of its broadband network together with partners. This can be a large company as well as a locally operating municipal utility. All sides benefit from these cooperations. Above all, customers benefit: they gain access to a broader range of fiber-optic products.

In addition, there are other companies that are expanding, such as GlasfaserPlus or GlasfaserNordWest. In these cases, you need a separate wholesale contract with the respective company so that you can also order fiber-optic connections for your end customers in the footprint there.

Here you can see the progress of the fiber-optic rollout in your marketing area.

It depends on whether you want to connect one of the M2M interfaces (order interface, service interface, interference suppression interface) or whether you want to carry out your orders and inquiries via the self-services of the wholesale mall (wholesale portal).

If you decide to connect to one or more of our interfaces, you will need to implement the endpoints of these interfaces on your premises.

If you decide to use the portal's self-services, you do not need to make any adjustments in your own systems. You will receive all relevant order information either in the portal or by e-mail.

If you have any further questions about the connection of our interfaces, our experts will be happy to assist you.

In the availability data, you can find address-specific information regarding the period in which Deutsche Telekom plans to deploy if you place a "Not Connected" order. You can access the availability data via the portal or the service interface or a query via the mass availability data.

To connect a building to the Deutsche Telekom fiber-optic network in your region as part of the fiber-optic rollout, the consent of the landlord is required. Deutsche Telekom supports you with your communications with residents that have fiber-optic house connections.

• As a tenant: Provide the contact details of the landlord party when placing your order. We contact the owner or the property management for approval.
• In the case of owners' associations: We contact the landlord party by e-mail, who forwards it to responsible persons if necessary. If there is an urgent need, a circular resolution can be used.
• In case of resistance in apartment buildings: We recommend seeking dialogue and offer argumentative support. The connection enhances the property and is free of charge for tenants. Via FTTH, residents can enjoy the fiber-optic network with a bandwidth of up to 1,000 Mbit/s.
• In the case of larger housing companies: Approval is given by a mandated representative. In most cases, decisions are made about the entire property portfolio.

Our recommendation: From approx. 100 customer orders per week.

An M2M connection requires development effort, conformity testing and regular updates. If there are fewer orders, it is worthwhile to use the wholesale portal.

This and other information can be found in the following detailed reference books:

• AH4WITA (WITA Working Manual, German)
• AH4FBACCESS (FTTH Work Manual, German)
• Instruction manual Wholesale Portal (German)

1. Your end customer must select an installation date at Deutsche Telekom's request. The appointment offer will be sent by e-mail, if necessary by telephone contact. The time for contacting them depends on the progress of construction so far. As soon as the end customer receives an appointment offer from us, you will of course be informed about it at the same time.
2. The apartment must be freely accessible to our technician on the day of installation. All objects in the way should be cleared.
3. If the end customer does not respond to our appointment offer, our field service team will try to contact your end customer by phone.

• What happens in the event of a malfunction?
  If your end customer experiences malfunctions during operation after installation of the Gf-TA, you have the option of carrying out a diagnosis or setting up a fault clearance order so that your end customer's connection works again as quickly as possible.
• How do I deal with complaints / damage in the removal process?
  If there are complaints or damage to the property of your end customer (or the owner) during installation, you have the option of placing a ticket via clearing at T Wholesale. Deutsche Telekom then examines this case immediately and contacts the person in question.
• What are the biggest challenges that can arise and how will I be notified of delays?
  In practice, there can be various difficulties with fiber-optic rollout. Among other things, the owner might agree to the rollout, which stops the processing for the time being. In addition, there are also temporary issues, such as a lack of permits from cities and municipalities, temporary construction obstructions or a lack of cooperation from end customers or owners. 
  You will be informed about these delays immediately after they occur – as well as about the elimination of these challenges so the order can be further processed.
• What are the deadlines / service level agreements (SLAs)?
  The respective provision periods are contractually regulated.
• Are there any services that Deutsche Telekom offers? 
  You are welcome to order an express fault clearance for a connection. This makes it possible to resolve faults in our network more quickly. It ensures prioritized processing so that failures at your end customers are resolved as quickly as possible.

Agreed number of connections in an area to which a partner makes a commitment to secure better prices.

Partner commits to certain purchase quantities, and receives reduced prices and planning security in return.

Order where the FTTH socket is already available (e.g. by previous tenant) – quick activation is possible.

Order where the FTTH socket is already available (e.g. by previous tenant) – quick activation is possible.

Optional pricing model to extend the commitment as volumes increase.

Point in the building where the fiber-optic line ends and meets the internal house cabling.

Point in the building where the fiber-optic line ends and meets the internal house cabling.

Buildings that have already been passed by the fiber-optic line, but the building itself is not yet connected.

The building is connected with a fiber-optic line in the supply room; the connections to the apartments still have to be established.

The fiber-optic line is already in the hallway of the apartment building; the connection in the individual apartment is still pending.

Support services for partners during onboarding, including assistance with the first concrete orders.

Ethernet-based handover for regional connections, usually at approximately 900 regional Ethernet nodes. Internationally also known as VULA.

IP-based core network with routing, aggregation and handover to a few central locations (e.g. 11 core network locations).

International name for Layer 2.

Automated interface for direct order entry and integration into the partner's CRM or ordering systems.

Database that indicates the rollout status per address/KLS ID and enables partners to assess availability and necessary steps.

Order where construction activities are still required, depending on the construction status of the building.

Converts optical signals from the fiber-optic line into electrical signals for routers or end devices.

Online platform for partners for order entry, status enquiry and documentation.

Authentication and authorization procedures for end customers. The line ID identifies the line section from the end customer to the access node and enables "credential-free authentication".

Combination device that includes both modem (ONT) and router functions, e.g. Speedport Smart 4 Plus or FRITZ! Box 5530 Fiber.

Pricing model in which the monthly leasing price decreases the more connections a partner takes.

Phase in which the rollout is planned and communication about it has already started, but no lines have yet been laid.

Interface that enables automated orders of end-customer connections (machine-to-machine / M2M).