Last mile fiber optics refers to the infrastructure employed to bring a variety of services to any customer. It refers to things like cable, the internet and telephone service and may be of a few different types. If the last length is referred to as “hard wired”, this could include light-bearing- and wire cable or telephone wires. The alternative is “wireless”, where there are no physical connections.
It is a mistake to think that the ‘mile’ represents an accurate measurement. What it represents it essentially the last leg of a technological pathway to its destination. Those in metric countries prefer to use ‘kilometer’ instead.
This final segment of the distance is where the technology is still trailing behind. While most networks have been putting light transmitting cables to use for an extended period, the part from the most proximal remote terminal to the end user still remains dominated by copper cabling.
Working against the move across to using these cables in the final segment appears to be the time as well as the cost that will be incurred in pulling up the existing copper cables and equipment on a world-wide basis.
Given that these optical cables represent the “grand master” at achieving high-speed connectivity, and generally appear to only be limited by the equipment they finish with at the end of the line, this last extension will surely make the transition eventually, once the costs of the fiber itself, and for installing it safely above or underground reaches a cost-effective range.
The nature of optical fiber is such that when in position and working, the maintenance and up-keep is very low from then on. In addition these cables have a life expectancy of around 40 years from installation date. This can also represent a challenge to those who pay for them and who install them. Once they are up and running, dismantling the cables or moving the cables if customers move and have paid for them, or default on payments, is difficult.
Another option which is more quickly and cheaply installed is to go the ‘wireless’ route. However, in comparison, its maximum capacity is still only about 2% of that of optical fibers representing severe limitations to bandwidth needed ever increasingly. Nevertheless, there are no major topographical factors, digging or red tape linked to this in a wireless connection, also known as a ‘mobile mile’.
Once the time has been reached where the world has switched completely to the new technology, fiber optic cables right to their final destination at offices and houses of the man in the street, broadband services will reach high penetration. The mass market will be able to enjoy many interactive services like banking (data), video and audio networking.
Until such time as the coveted last mile fiber optics becomes a reality, other options, or combinations of options should strive to be effective in the provision sufficient signal power capacity by achieving a high signal to noise ratio (SNR), have low energy loss to other forms and cater for wide transmission bandwidth.