Quantifying Optical Link Loss of Fiber-to-the-Home Infrastructure

Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology is among the most advanced broadband services, delivering voice, data, and television through a single optical fiber directly to customer premises, ensuring high-speed and reliable connectivity. The study conducted on Nepal Telecom's FTTH networks involved direct measurements from the optical line terminal to the fiber access point and optical network unit, providing detailed insights into network performance. Using the OptiSystem software, the analysis revealed a link loss of 24.99 dB, a Q-factor of 12.98, and a minimum Bit Error Rate (BER) of 7.31E-39, all within standard limits, which underscores the robustness of the network. The study also identified that the highest contributors to signal loss were connector loss, fiber attenuation, and fusion splices, emphasizing the importance of minimizing these factors to maintain optimal network performance. Overall, these findings highlight the critical aspects of FTTH network design and maintenance, ensuring that service providers can deliver high-quality broadband services to customers.