Fiber to the Home (FTTH)

The broadband telecommunications system based on fiber-optic cables/optical devices and aimed to deliver advanced services such as of telephone, broadband Internet and television across one link (triple play), all the way to the home/business is making a strong come back . These technology named as fiber-to-the-node (FTTN), Fiber to the Premises (FTTP), Fiber to the Home (FTTH), or fiber to the building (FTTB) started with great enthusiasm around 1999-2000 but with the dot-com bubble almost everyone abandoned the idea of fiber to the home or business.
However the last two year have seen renewed interest in fiber-optic networks. The two giant Verizon and AT&T are building their fiber-optic networks.
Verizon has been offering FiOS Internet-- with maximum connection speeds of up to 50 Mbps or 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream, and FiOS TV in select markets for more than a year now.
Check it out at Verizon website at FiOS for Home
Last few months have seen product launch of AT&T U-verse. The AT&T U-verse offers;
AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet U-verse in three flavors--- Elite: Downstream up to 6.0 Mbps, upstream up to 1.0 Mbps. Pro: Downstream up to 3.0 Mbps, upstream up to 1.0 Mbps. Express: Downstream up to 1.5 Mbps, upstream up to 1.0 Mbps
AT&T U-verse TV –Host of TV channels with up to 25 High Definition (HD) channels,
IP video and voice over IP services.
Check it out at AT&T web site at AT&T
Satellite and cable operators are in for some serious competition now. Fiber optical networks not only have advantage in terms of virtually unlimited bandwidth but they also deliver on quality. Will it be fight between FiOS and U-verse or will they operate like a cartel to knock off satellite and cable operators.Let us see how it unfold but one thing is sure that customers will have the last word.