Hack GPON – how to access, change and edit fibre ONTs

In my neighborhood (Netherlands) it appears the fiber network is physically point-to-point (subscriber to ODF), but is operated as XGS-GPON (so all subscribers see the same light signal so to say, but each over their own ptp fiber from the ODF). So point-multipoint only at the active layer.

I was told that this is because the company who is rolling out the fiber wants to make the network as attractive as possible to ISP’s who want to offer services over it (and wants them to compete) which may be more difficult in an actual physical point-multipoint network (which requires PON). The ISP currently likes PON more than AON (basically Ethernet over fiber to a switch) because the equipment is cheaper. In theory I should be able to switch to an ISP who offers AON or its own PON (they’d only have to physically patch my fiber in a different port at the ODF).

Even in Switzerland there were attempts of not building out AON. Swisscom was hoping they can get away with just having XGS-PON all the way to the customer and the other ISPs were also in favor of that (other than init7 which does not actually lay any fiber). The cost of P2P is pretty significant.

~CHF 65 more per connection is the cost difference that was calculated. For a de-facto future proof connection that should be considered insignificant.

Swisscom pissed away millions of tax payer money after the government ordered an injunction to stop building out on the P2MP network. All they did was continue but just not connect those lines hoping they would win the court cause.