FBA proposes blueprint for cable networks' fiber to the home transition

It’s clear that cable MSOs are at a market crossroads, with competitive pressures from fiber overbuilders and fixed wireless access (FWA) prompting them to consider a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) path.

While cable had a clear advantage for several years, with strong quarterly broadband subscriber growth as traditional telcos saw their copper-based DSL base erode due to slower speeds, losses began in 2023 and have accelerated into 2025 and 2026, driven by competition from FTTH service providers.

A new Fiber Broadband Association analysis--Upgrading MSO Networks to Fiber to the Home (FTTH): A Technical Perspective--examines how MSOs can transition from hybrid fiber-coaxial networks to FTTH infrastructure to meet bandwidth demand.

FBA’s Technology Committee developed the paper examining deployment models, technology options, and operational considerations for Multiple System Operators (MSOs) evaluating long-term network upgrades.  

The technical analysis also outlines several deployment approaches available to MSOs, including greenfield FTTH overbuilds, phased “fiber deepening” strategies that gradually replace coaxial segments, and full network overbuilds that transition entire systems to fiber.  

Given the fact that transitioning to fiber is a multi-stage process, FBA also offers several considerations for MSOs planning the transition, including workforce training, fiber network management, OSS/BSS integration, and customer premises equipment deployment.