Kuituverkot

Kuituverkot, or fiber networks, are telecommunication networks that transmit data as light through optical fibers. They are designed to provide high-capacity broadband, carrying Internet, telephony and television services with low latency and minimal signal loss. Kuituverkot are increasingly used as the backbone for modern digital infrastructure and are capable of supporting future bandwidth demands.

A kuituverkko typically comprises core or backbone networks, distribution networks and access networks. Fibers run from central offices or exchanges through street cabinets and into buildings. In fiber to the home (FTTH) or fiber to the premises (FTTP) configurations, the optical fiber reaches the customer’s living or working space. In fiber to the cabinet (FTTC) setups, the fiber ends at a nearby distribution point, with copper or other media used for the final connection.

Technology often employed in the access segment is the passive optical network (PON), such as GPON, 10G-PON or XG-PON, which splits a single fiber among multiple subscribers using passive optical splitters. The network generally relies on an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) at the service provider’s facility and Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) or Optical Network Units (ONUs) at customer premises. Alternative architectures include active Ethernet, where each user has a dedicated fiber connection.

Advantages of kuituverkot include very high bandwidth, low latency, robustness against electromagnetic interference and long-term scalability. Upfront costs and civil engineering for laying fiber, as well as ongoing maintenance of physical networks, are common considerations. Networks can be publicly, municipally or privately owned, often supported by public funding or subsidies to extend coverage, particularly in rural areas.

Kuituverkot play a central role in enabling modern digital services, supporting education, telemedicine, remote work and smart-city applications by ensuring reliable access to fast Internet.