Fibre internet has proven to be a step-change in connectivity — promising exponentially faster speeds and significant reliability advantages than older internet connections.

If you’re exploring high-speed internet options for your business, then you’ve probably come across the terms Fibre to the Business (FTTB) and Fibre to the Home (FTTH). They both sound similar, and although they achieve the same end result, FTTB and FTTH are deployed in different settings. 

Fibre to the Business, as the name implies, is a connectivity solution commonly designed for office environments with multiple users of multiple devices connecting to lots of cloud apps. Fibre to the Home is better suited to home users who have different connectivity needs such as streaming video/music.

FTTB and FTTH can be confusing for someone that knows little about internet connectivity, especially considering these aren’t the only differences between the two formats. In this article, we’ll dive further into the basics of FTTB and FTTH solutions, and compare them for you so you’ll have a better understanding of how each fibre internet solution works. 

Coverage 

While fibre internet rollout continues to gather momentum, its progress is making headway in main suburbs. As such, FTTB offers more availability if your business is set up in a metro area. It’s very likely that central business districts or areas where many office buildings are grouped together are already covered by a FTTB network. Residential areas do have coverage, but this is based on interest and some neighbourhoods may not have a FTTH network installed yet.

Speeds 

Fibre internet in general is undoubtedly the fastest option for connecting to the internet. However, FFTB definitely has the win when it comes to speed. Built to accommodate the demands of hectic workplaces, FTTH is specifically designed to allow employees to send files faster, download large attachments, and upload information quickly. FTTH typically focuses on providing accessible internet packages that max out at 50Mbps while FTTB allows for speeds of 200Mbps or more.

Symmetry

FTTB offers symmetrical speeds, which means that your data travels at the same speeds in either direction. For example, with a 200/200 Mbps fibre package, both your download and upload speeds will be 200Mbps. Symmetrical speeds provide a more reliable connection for businesses that are heavily dependent on cloud services and video conferencing tools.

In comparison, FTTH offers asymmetrical speeds because residential internet usage mostly revolves around streaming entertainment, which rely more on download than upload speeds. So, with FTTH, you might get an upload speed of 25Mbps and a download speed of 50Mbps. 

Contention ratios

Contention ratio refers to how many people are sharing the same data capacity on a network. A contention ratio of 1-10:1 is the standard rate for FTTB networks. This means that ten people are connected to the internet at the same time. Because there is less pressure on the network, users will experience faster speeds and internet stability. 

A contention ratio of 25-50:1 is normally expected with FTTH. More people are sharing the same bandwidth, therefore the connection will be slower to give everyone a chance to connect.

Security

A cybersecurity attack on a home network can be a major inconvenience for residential users. But, a security breach can be disastrous for a business, affecting its bottom line, as well as the business’ standing and consumer trust. As such, the protection of a FTTB network is a top priority for internet service providers. Significant investments are made to ensure data protection. FTTB has security features built in, including secure tunneling and VPNs. FTTH services, on the other hand, offer very basic security. 

SLA

FTTB users always sign a Service Level Agreement – or SLA – which details the promised bandwidth, uptime, and response times in case of failure. This gives businesses peace of mind that they will not experience a lot of downtime or failed networks that may impact their operations. FTTH users are usually offered a “Best Effort” service. This simply means that the ISP does not provide any guarantee that the connection will always reach the advertised speeds and that they will do their best to ensure uptime and reliability.

• READ NEXT: How slow internet speeds hurt your business

Final word on Fibre to the Business vs Fibre to the Home

Overall, FTTB and FTTH are basically the same thing – but if you’re looking for better quality and features, then you can’t really go wrong with FTTB. Though bear in mind that FTTB costs more than FTTH but it is worth paying an extra little more and getting those benefits such as higher speeds, better security. You may even find that some ISPs have rules in place that prevent you from signing up for a FTTH package.

If you’re interested in installing FTTB at your premises, reach out to Nashua for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can help you assess your current and desired internet connectivity needs and work with you to determine which Fibre to the Business options are best for you.