What equipment does Rostelecom offer its users for the Internet, television and video surveillance?

Gpon – general job description

Passive optical technologies (Pon) appeared not very long ago, but are confidently replacing traditional methods of organizing Internet access operating over copper cables. Optical cable has huge advantages over copper cable:

• the ability to transmit information at enormous speeds;
• Thousands of clients can be connected via one optical cable, and this will not affect the quality of communication;
• connection speed is not dependent on weather conditions;
• durability, i.e. Fiber optic cable does not rot or rust.

  
  Speed ​​of the gpon network of Rostelecom.

The "G" prefix assumes that the connection is at gigabit speed. This technology is called passive because there is no active network equipment between the provider’s node and the end consumer, and the optics are laid directly into the client’s apartment.

No equipment is required, because the length of the optical cable without additional signal amplification is up to 20 km, and in the near future developments are underway to increase the line to 60 km.

The connection can be carried out in synchronous and asynchronous modes. Typically, providers prefer asynchronous mode. The maximum speed is limited to 2.5 Gb/s for receiving, and 1.25 Gb/s for transmitting information.

PON technology from Rostelecom

Due to the high data transfer speed, the responsiveness of networks with PON technology from Rostelecom is of greatest importance in comparison with other types of connections and will be an excellent solution for connecting large companies to the Internet.

At the moment, market speed requirements are quickly approaching the 100 Mbit/s mark, and according to forecasts they will reach 1 Gbit/s for the mass consumer. Only optical cables have the ability to maintain these high performance over the long distances that are necessarily present between the provider and the user.

Already, FTTH (Fiber to the Home) bandwidth is available to service providers, delivered to the home. The new architecture will serve as the foundation for access networks that will meet consumer demands for many years to come.

Deploying FTTH access networks is not a cheap undertaking and in most cases requires labor-intensive construction work to lay cables to consumer homes. Even though the cost of fiber optics has dropped in recent years, the cost of the connection itself still hasn't gotten significantly lower.

The development of wavelength division (WDM) technology, which uses a single fiber for incoming and outgoing traffic, has greatly improved the situation.

Eventually, the first of the FTTH networks moved to the new standard, where a single fiber is connected to a passive optical splitter that distributes the signal to multiple subscribers.

This standard became the PON technology now used by Rostelecom. It can support 1:64 signal splitting from a single fiber. In addition, PON technologies of the telecommunications operator Rostelecom also include additional signals that provide analog and digital television services to users without the need to use them through IP set-top boxes.

Advantages of the Internet using PON technology from Rostelecom

The obvious advantage of Rostelecom's PON Internet in general is that one common optical fiber can support many users through inexpensive passive optical splitters, which will allow the network to remain responsive with up to 64 users.

This makes the new technology attractive not only to consumers, but also to service providers looking to replace copper networks in dense urban areas.

Advantages and features of PON networks include:

• no need for active equipment in the access network, which prevents electromagnetic interference;
• reduction of equipment and fiber in the central office.

PON equipment from Rostelecom provides greater bandwidth and supports double distribution ratio. This means that with a 64-lane distribution, each subscriber receives an impressive connection throughput of about 35 Mbit/s. If the service provider decides to implement lower allocation factors, such as 16 or 32, subscribers will be able to receive even more bandwidth.

Higher transmission speeds become available to users by increasing the efficiency of using the bandwidth of the PON standard. Moreover, this technology is designed to provide multi-service services (data, video and voice), and not just high-speed Internet access.

The principle of connecting to Rostelecom

In order to connect, a future subscriber must contact the nearest Rostelecom office and leave a request. You can connect one or more services to choose from:

• Internet;
• City (landline) telephony;
• IP television.

Any connection to a provider via wire requires additional costs.

Those clients who have previously been connected to Rostelecom using ADSL technology know this from their own experience; new subscribers will be told about this when submitting an application.

The main difficulty is the installation of the cable, which, due to its specific qualities, is not advisable to bend too much, so usually all equipment is installed in the hallway. The equipment includes a special ONT router designed to work in fiber-optic networks, which can be rented directly from a provider or purchased independently. It is advisable that an electrical outlet be installed in the hallway. End devices are connected via regular twisted pair Ethernet or via WiFi.

Gpon network diagram provided by the provider Rostelecom.

After technical issues have been agreed upon with the client, a router has been purchased, and a service agreement is concluded. The cable is being installed, laid, and the router is configured.

Flaws

The system has specific implementation, installation and connection features. These are believed to be the main disadvantages:

• The optical fiber that is routed directly to the subscriber’s apartment is quite fragile. Even with a strong bend, the quality of the signal deteriorates, and it can be broken if laid carelessly. Therefore, it is recommended to install the socket directly in the hallway to avoid running under the baseboard or being pulled through the house.
• When installing distribution units in apartment buildings, a public space, for example, a basement, is used. From it come “veins” that are laid inside the walls. Consequently, when laying communications, it is impossible to avoid breaking through walls and ceilings. This is the most unpleasant moment for residents - the noise of repairs, dust and other operating issues. As soon as you see that the distribution boards have appeared, consider that all installation troubles are over.
• From distribution panels that are installed outside apartments, single fiber optic “cores” are carried out to the apartments of future subscribers. So the wall in the corridor is also at risk of slight destruction - it is necessary to install the socket.

Another point that can be classified as a disadvantage: if something happens directly to the cable, then you will be cut off from all technical devices at once, and all connected devices will stop working at the same time. But, on the other hand, if there are power outages, then you can use those that do not depend on power supply. For example, a charged laptop will not only work, the Internet will not disappear anywhere, because optical fiber is not “tied” to the power grid.

So, now you know what prospects and advantages the widespread implementation of xPON technology opens up. All you have to do is wait until your area is included in the system. Leading providers implement it when laying new or replacing old communications, so we can say with confidence that they will soon replace the usual cable networks everywhere. And then you will be able to appreciate all the benefits of innovative fiber-optic telecommunications from personal experience.

Setting up connection equipment

If the router is purchased or rented from Rostelecom, then its initial configuration is performed during installation directly by Rostelecom employees. In cases where the subscriber is purchasing a router himself or he already has equipment, the configuration options may vary depending on the model and manufacturer of the network equipment, as well as on its capabilities. You can find enough information on the Internet with step-by-step instructions that you can follow to set it up yourself.

Rostelecom offers its customers several models of ONT devices, one of which is G PON ONT RFT620. This is a fairly successful and universal model that allows you to connect up to 4 devices to the LAN, and an unlimited number via wireless technology, it is possible to watch streaming television, and connect up to 2 landline phones.

All settings are made via the web configurator. To do this, you need to type the address “192.168.1.254” in the browser and enter the user name and password: user/user. There is no need to enter any Internet settings; this has already been done by the provider. You just need to configure your home network to suit your needs:

• enable the WiFi wireless module;
• change security settings;
• set static or dynamic IP addresses, etc.

Services and packages

Rostelecom offers its customers many different options and service packages, the most popular of which are the following:

• home Internet via fiber optic line with selectable connection speed;
• interactive television with more than 160 channels;
• home landline telephone, with the ability to choose a call tariff;
• mobile telephony;
• ONT router rental at a low price.

All these services can be selected separately or combined into packages. The monthly subscription fee will depend on your choice. The company holds constant promotions and discounts, information about which can be found on their portal. Also, for each region the price for services is different.

Pros and cons of connecting using Gpon technology

Connecting via GPON, like any other method, has its positive and negative sides. The positive ones include the following:

• The cable is pulled directly between the provider's PBX and into the user's apartment, i.e. There are no intermediate nodes, which significantly increases the speed of information transfer and signal stability.
• The signal in a fiber optic cable is transmitted not by electrical impulses, but by light impulses. This means that there is no risk of injury from electric shock at all.
• Possibility to connect several services at once through one ONT device.

There are, of course, disadvantages to this connection method:

• The optical cable is very susceptible to sharp bends, which means that it will be difficult to route it around the apartment to distant rooms. It is also not recommended to place furniture and other heavy objects on the cable.
• Although there is nothing valuable for sale in the cable, main lines and wiring in entrances are constantly under threat from vandals.
• The cable does not transmit electricity, which is why animals are of increased interest in it. It is advisable to hide it in a box.

Advantages

It’s worth noting right away that the advantages of the new method are much greater than the disadvantages:

• transmission speed: from 100 Megabits per second and above;
• ensuring the operation of all devices using one line (therefore, calculations are simplified, the subscription fee to the provider goes immediately for all services);
• quality parameters: stability (does not depend on distances to distribution nodes), quality (even “heavy” content is available, for example, HD video);
• does not depend on “overloads”: the specifics of the final connection - a maximum of 64 individual fibers can be taken from each node, for which the optical cable is designed;
• general settings: all the necessary settings for each device are installed on one modem, the software is configured directly upon connection and does not require further correction (only if you need to “add” new equipment);
• possibility of choice: the subscriber himself decides what package of services he needs and how many devices will work on his personal line;
• additional services: antivirus, parental controls and other services - all this is configured by the provider;
• improved telephony quality (digital signal).

These are the benefits provided by connecting the Internet and other communications using xPON technology. The concept of “passive” in this abbreviation (Passive) means that the constructed communication route does not contain energy-consuming components, therefore, the signal quality is not tied to overloads in the power grid.

Replacing all copper cables with one does not worsen, but rather improves the quality characteristics of telecommunications services.

Customer Reviews

There are many both positive and negative reviews on the Internet. Many people, speaking in raised voices, simply have no idea how technology works. When technicians suggest drilling a wall and installing an outlet in the hallway. This causes a lot of outrage. But almost all providers only sell wired home Internet, and in any case the cable will be routed into the apartment.

Some people complain about low connection speeds, without completely understanding how this speed is measured and how it is expressed. People often try to measure speed by measuring speed from a phone running via WiFi. But no one takes into account the fact that several devices are connected to the router, and the channel width is divided evenly between them.

In any case, GPON technology is very promising, Rostelecom equipment is being actively replaced throughout the country and the home Internet connection service is moving to a new level.