The journey of your internet: OLT to ONT
- 1OLT (Optical Line Terminal): sits at the ISP's exchange or point of presence, the origin of the fibre signal
- 2Distribution fibre: runs from the OLT toward the neighbourhood or building being served
- 3Splitter: divides one fibre strand's signal to serve multiple customers
- 4Drop cable: the final short run from the splitter to the customer's premises, typically ADSS for aerial delivery
- 5ONT (Optical Network Terminal): the box on the customer's wall that converts the optical signal into a usable Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection
GPON: the technology behind most FTTH networks
GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) is the technology most Kenyan FTTH deployments use to share one fibre strand across many customers efficiently through passive, unpowered, splitters, rather than running dedicated fibre to every single home.
Why FTTH is more reliable than wireless in Nairobi
Fibre is not affected by the interference, line-of-sight requirements or weather sensitivity that wireless links contend with. Once installed correctly, its main vulnerabilities are physical, cable cuts from construction work, rather than environmental.
What installation day actually looks like
An installer runs or confirms the drop cable to your premises, terminates it, mounts and powers the ONT, and tests the light signal before handing over a working connection. Most straightforward residential installs are completed within a single visit, though building access and internal cable routing can extend more complex jobs.
Common FTTH installation problems in Kenyan buildings
- No existing conduit to upper floors: often needs a new cable route planned with the installer, not just the ISP
- Weak or fluctuating signal: usually a bend-radius violation or a dirty or damaged connector, not a fibre going bad
- Rain-related outages: almost always a compromised aerial splice enclosure or connector, not the fibre itself failing in wet weather