As billions of devices become connected – from smart meters and autonomous systems to industrial sensors and intelligent buildings – the value of fibre networks is shifting. The next challenge is no longer simply delivering more bandwidth, but creating flexible infrastructure capable of supporting diverse, latency-sensitive services, argues Dave Keane-Mirajkar, Senior Director, Solutions Architecture, Aurora Networks.
For more than a decade, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks have been driven by a race for higher speeds. Each new generation of passive optical network (PON) technology has delivered increased bandwidth and throughput, shaping competition around performance.
Today, however, that dynamic is changing. Consumer demand has begun to stabilise, and there is no clear “net killer app” pushing bandwidth requirements to new extremes.
While overall data consumption continues to grow, the pace of that growth has slowed. Even bandwidth-intensive applications such as 16K ultra-high-definition video are being offset by more efficient compression technologies. As a result, raw speed is no longer the primary differentiator. Instead, attention is shifting toward ultra-low latency, reliability, and overall quality of experience.
Despite the rise in remote work, 4K streaming and Cloud gaming, widely deployed XGS-PON networks already provide more capacity than most households can use. Average peak usage remains relatively low, meaning bandwidth has moved from scarcity to surplus. This shift is prompting operators to rethink how they create value.
This is where the Fixed Access Network Sharing (FANS) model stands out as a key differentiator in how operators build, monetise and scale FTTH.
Why competing on speed is no longer enough
Offering higher speed tiers is becoming less effective as a competitive strategy. Once customers reach speeds of around 300 to 500 Mbps, further increases to 1 or 2 Gbps deliver little noticeable improvement. This creates a disconnect between investment and perceived value, as higher speeds do not significantly improve user experience.
At the same time, fibre deployment costs continue to rise. Building parallel networks in the same areas is capital-intensive and inefficient. While such approaches may meet regulatory requirements, they do not maximise the use of existing infrastructure.
Siloed network models further limit progress. Operators often focus heavily on network expansion instead of service innovation, constraining their ability to develop new offerings in areas such as cloud, content, or smart home services. These pressures are driving the industry towards a more efficient and sustainable model.
FANS: Shifting from siloed networks to shared infrastructure
As the industry moves beyond speed-driven competition, the focus is turning to how effectively fibre networks can be shared. FANS has emerged as a model that enables this shift.
FANS allows multiple wholesale and retail operators to use the same physical fibre infrastructure while maintaining full control over their services. Each provider operates independently, managing its own service quality, traffic and customer experience in a secure and isolated way. Instead of building duplicate networks, retail providers access virtualised slices of shared infrastructure. For wholesale operators, this creates a significant opportunity to monetise the same asset multiple times, improving utilisation and overall return on investment.
The growing relevance of FANS reflects broader changes in the industry. As bandwidth requirements mature, value is shifting away from raw throughput toward reliability, cost efficiency and quality of experience. Advances in virtualisation and software-defined access now make flexible sharing models possible at scale.
Regulatory trends are also encouraging open access approaches that reduce duplication and expand coverage. Together, these developments are enabling a more collaborative and economically efficient fibre ecosystem.
FANS as an enabler of next-generation service platforms
FANS supports new wholesale-retail business models by allowing multiple service providers to operate on the same infrastructure. Each provider retains control over its offerings and customer relationships – creating a more dynamic and competitive landscape.
It also lowers barriers to entry. Utilities, mobile-only operators and niche providers can enter the FTTH market without deploying their own networks, opening new revenue streams and increasing competition. At the same time, shared infrastructure reduces costs, making it more viable to serve rural and underserved areas.
Wholesale operators evolve into platform providers, offering service-ready fibre environments rather than basic connectivity. This enables faster service deployment and increases the value of wholesale offerings.
Unlocking greater value from fibre assets
Network sharing improves asset utilisation by allowing each fibre deployment to support more users, operators and services. Automation and virtualisation reduce operational complexity, enabling providers to manage their own network environments independently.
Importantly, innovation shifts to the service layer. Operators can introduce offerings such as smart home services, home security, SME connectivity and Edge-Cloud experiences without waiting for new infrastructure upgrades. This allows continuous service development even as the underlying network remains stable.
Accelerating FTTH growth beyond the speed race
As the industry matures, FANS provides a more sustainable path forward. It enables operators to expand efficiently, reduce capital expenditure and reach more customers at lower cost. It also supports greater competition and consumer choice by allowing multiple providers to operate within a shared infrastructure.
By shifting focus from infrastructure duplication to service differentiation, network sharing unlocks a new phase of value creation.
The future of FTTH strategy
The FTTH industry is entering a new phase in which collaboration, efficiency, and innovation take priority over speed alone. The traditional approach of building parallel networks and competing on bandwidth is giving way to a model that maximises the value of existing infrastructure.
FANS is central to this transition, supported by technologies such as software-defined management, virtualised broadband gateways, and multi-tenant optical systems. Together, these enable scalable shared networks that support new business models.
As the industry looks ahead, it is clear that the future of FTTH lies not in faster speeds, but in shared value created through more efficient and collaborative use of fibre infrastructure.
Author biography:
Dave Keane-Mirajkar is Senior Director, Solutions Architecture at Aurora Networks.
