Use case

FTTO Connection for a SD-WAN Deployment

Provision of an FTTO Link

Context

A managed services operator needed to deploy a nationwide SD-WAN architecture for a client with dozens of sites across France.

The client’s existing infrastructure relied on:

  • end-of-life copper access,
  • heterogeneous consumer-grade links,
  • significant latency variations depending on the region,
  • and no guarantees on network paths.

For SD-WAN to perform optimally, the underlying network must be reliable in order to:

  • correctly enforce routing policies,
  • ensure application performance,
  • maintain load balancing and automatic failover,
  • avoid micro-outages that disrupt SD-WAN tunnels.

Challenge: provide consistent, reliable links so the SD-WAN could fully leverage its mechanisms, without creating an unstable hybrid architecture.

Solution Deployed

To stabilize the network foundation before SD-WAN integration, ielo deployed a mix of standard FTTO and FTTO Burst links, tailored to each site’s usage and criticality.

Central sites and business platforms → Standard FTTO

With:

  • guaranteed symmetric bandwidth,
  • stable and predictable latency,
  • high availability,
  • 4-hour restoration guarantee (GTR 4h).

These links served as primary paths for SD-WAN tunnels. For additional resilience, the architecture was further secured with:

  • dual fiber feed where available,
  • diversified paths from ielo’s metropolitan network.

Sites with moderate or lower traffic → FTTO Burst

With:

  • guaranteed bandwidth up to 100 Mb/s,
  • burst capacity up to 1 Gb/s to absorb peaks (inventory sync, backups),
  • an appropriate restoration guarantee,
  • no contention — critical for SD-WAN overlay stability.

Result

The SD-WAN was deployed in a stabilized environment, delivering predictable and consistent performance.

The client now benefits from:

  • reliable, loss-free SD-WAN tunnels,
  • effective application-level prioritization,
  • a drastic reduction in connectivity-related incidents,
  • coherent load balancing thanks to controlled latency,
  • an architecture ready for future SD-WAN policies,
  • simplified support for the managed services operator.

By providing a homogeneous FTTO foundation (standard + Burst), ielo enabled a high-performing, consistent, and reliable SD-WAN deployment, where the previous connectivity had been a point of fragility.