Fibre 2, specifically Vodafone Fibre 2, is a type of broadband service that uses a fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) connection.
Understanding Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC)
FTTC technology involves fibre optic cables running from the telephone exchange to a street cabinet. From the cabinet to your home, the connection is completed using existing copper wiring.
Key Features of Fibre 2
Here's a breakdown of what Fibre 2 typically involves:
- Fibre Connection to the Cabinet: High-speed fibre optic cables are used up to the street cabinet.
- Copper Connection to Your Home: The final leg of the connection from the cabinet to your home uses the existing copper wiring. This method is the main difference from Fiber To The Premises (FTTP) connections.
- Utilizes Existing Infrastructure: Fibre 2 leverages existing infrastructure which can make deployment quicker and more affordable than FTTP connections.
How It Works
- Data travels from the internet service provider's (ISP) network to your local exchange via fiber optic cable.
- The signal then goes from the exchange to the cabinet in your street, using fiber optics.
- Finally, the connection from the cabinet to your home relies on the existing copper wires.
Practical Implications
- Speed Considerations: While faster than standard ADSL, the speed of Fibre 2 can be affected by the distance between your home and the street cabinet due to the copper wiring.
- Availability: FTTC is widely available in many areas where FTTP may not yet be present.
- Cost: It tends to be more cost-effective than pure fibre (FTTP) options.
Example
Imagine a main highway (fibre) leading to your neighborhood (street cabinet). From there, the smaller roads (copper wiring) bring the internet to your home.
