FTTHFTTC

FTTHFTTC is not a standard industry term but is used to describe mixed access network architectures in which some customers receive fiber directly to their premises (FTTH) while others receive fiber to a distribution point (FTTC) with the final copper segment to the customer. This approach is commonly employed by operators seeking to balance upfront costs, deployment speed, and service requirements across a diverse customer base.

In an FTTH deployment, fiber runs from the service provider’s central office or metro edge directly to the customer’s home, enabling high-bandwidth services and often symmetrical speeds with low latency. FTTC, by contrast, brings fiber closer to the user—typically to a street cabinet—and uses existing copper for the last mile, with the customer connection powered by VDSL2 or G.fast. This reduces capex and deployment time but generally caps maximum achievable speeds and makes performance more sensitive to copper quality and distance from the cabinet.

Hybrid or mixed networks combine both approaches within the same service area. Operators may install fiber to many premises while extending fiber to cabinets in other areas, using copper for the remaining reach. Such strategies aim to accelerate coverage and service levels, providing a pathway toward broader fiber access while containing costs and deployment complexity.

Performance and planning considerations differ. FTTH offers higher potential bandwidth, future scalability, and more consistent performance, whereas FTTC can deliver faster rollout in the short term but with limitations tied to copper characteristics and distance. The decision between FTTH, FTTC, or a hybrid depends on economics, regulatory context, and anticipated demand growth.