Huawei presented its FttR solution at VivaTech, an optical fiber with astonishing properties. The idea? Being able to create an entirely fiber optic network in your home.
FttR, for Fiber-to-the-Room, is a solution today powered and patented by Huawei which allows you to equip your home and obtain a quality of service which would be close to 99.8%, for coverage. Wi-Fi in the house. The Chinese firm, which Clubic met on VivaTech, has developed a fiber that is sufficiently flexible, that it can slip anywhere in its housing, in addition to having the advantage of being transparent. It is also already marketed in Reunion. Let’s get into the thick of it.
A new kind of optical fiber, efficient and very discreet
On the Porte de Versailles side, we spoke with Alexandre Ogier-Denis, account director at Huawei, who explained the principle to us. “ We connect the fiber to a box, a sort of box, which connects the building, the accommodation, the home, to all the Wi-Fi repeaters that are usually found in a house. » Huawei offers, in addition to the box, a repeater. Instead of using Wi-Fi channels, Huawei uses optical fiber, which allows you to maintain the speed you have when entering your first box, and this in all rooms of the house.
“ This allows, in particular, when you have several users at home, to offer them the best connection quality and the best speed, throughout the space of your home. This is truly a consumer product. », explains Alexandre.
This very simple FttR is invisible or almost invisible. For example, it is not necessary to drill into the walls to pull the fiber into the home. It can be stuck to the wall, floor or ceiling, using a double-sided system. And obviously, if your home is equipped with ducts, then it’s even better.
Very honest speeds for FttR
We might as well say it right away, the priority of technology is not to overdo it in speeds. “ We want to move away from the debate of power and into that of robustness, and thus provide the services of tomorrow without having to boost our box at the entrance. », Tells us Nassir Goulamaly, the CEO of Oceinde, parent company of the operator Zeop, which offers the technology to its subscribers.
The theoretical capabilities of the FttR are very correct. Between the box and the access points, the fiber optic network reaches 2.5 Gbit/s. “ We can have, depending on the Wi-Fi, up to 1 Gbit/s, guaranteed everywhere in the house, thanks to this solution. », Completes Nassir.
Concerning the installation, the telecom operator goes to the customer. The technician uses an application that allows you to analyze the power you have in the room. “ We then bring the fiber into the room you want, with the desired power in this or that location. I installed it myself at home and we can no longer see it at all. », Testifies the boss of Zeop.
Marketing in mainland France and prices, perhaps good surprises to come
Huawei’s idea is to extend the technology throughout France. Obviously, you will have to go through the authorities, not an easy task. But Huawei does have a first client, Zeop, with whom the company has deployed this solution, throughout Reunion Island. The operator, which coexists with Orange, Free and SFR, is the first to have deployed optical fiber in France, quite an achievement for a small island lost 10,000 kilometers from France, in the Indian Ocean. “ Thanks to this deployment, we are entering a new stage, a new era. We want to get back to the room, with the optical fiber. We are the first to launch this. And our customers are very satisfied », Satisfies Nassir Goulamaly.
In Reunion, Zeop aims to increase market share to 15 or even 20% with this FttR technology, with demand today considered “strong” by the local operator. The first subscribers have been able to benefit from it since 2024. Beta testers have been testing it since last September.
Installation can be paid or free depending on the number of boxes installed. Concerning the price evolution, Zeop confirms to us that you have to pay rent for the installed box, which may be two to three additional euros.
Journalist, responsible for Clubic news. Reporter, videographer, host and even singer-imitator, I wrote my first article in 6th grade. I made this vocation my profession (graduated from EJCAM, a school recognized by the profession), to write, interview, film, edit and produce written, audio or video content on a daily basis. Some chemistry with Tech, certainly, but also with the world of media, sport and travel. In addition to journalism, video production and animation, I have a YouTube channel (in my name) which should pique your curiosity if you like beautiful walks around the world, new technologies and music 🙂
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