The large scale diffusion of Internet based services has led to a request of higher and higher bandwidth from customers. It seems possible that in the next years the minimum bandwidth acceptable from the users will be 20 Mbit/s in both directions, in order to cope with the request of high definition TV and interactive services.

Only the large scale deployment of optical fibre technologies allows to satisfy this emerging need. Even if it is clear that FTTH will represent the long term solution, the Telecom operators are approaching this item in different ways, sometimes planning a transition from FTTCab or FTTB steps, in dependence on the situation of the existing copper asset.

One of the key points for the success of the optical fibre deployment in the access network is the availability of cost effective methods of Outside Plant construction. SG6 in the last two Study Periods has focussed its activity on this subject, providing a set of Recommendations that covers a wide range of Telecommunication infrastructures construction including a new generation of cables and optical components with the related installation techniques.

The aim of this workshop is to review the state of the art of the worldwide deployment of fibre in the access network, present new products and emerging installation techniques and discuss the pro and cons of the different FFTX solutions.