[LINK] FTTH CPE authentication - and can the end user switch adapters?

[Fernando Cassia]

A local firm is deploying FTTH in Argentina, using Huawei EchoLife HG850
http://www.basis-net.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=193&Itemid=143

...so, given Australia´s fibre backbone (NBN) experience, perhaps some
of you have some clue about what the authentication system is used for
these FTTH services?.

For instance, I do know that on coax (CATV) systems using DOCSIS 1.0
and 2.0, basic authentication is pretty weak -in other words, just the
cable modem´s MAC address is used to authenticate the subscriber to
the network, and if the user´s MAC address is on a "whitelist" of
paying customers, then he´s given an IP address from the ISP´s poll
and allowed to "go out" to the cloud. If not, he´s routed to a
customer care page-.

ADSL on the other hand -at least down here- are always connected to
the DSLAM at the phone co´s central office and the CPE is not
authenticated at all -in fact you can switch DSL modems without
telling anyone and the phone Co. just doesn´t care/notice- but you
cannot "go anywhere" until you establish a PPPOE session with the ISP
of your choice (down here using the format yourphonelinenumber at ispname
as your user name), and your password, both of which are authenticated
and then routing is set up at the ISP´s NOC.

So how does FTTH authentication work with these kind of devices like
the Huawei HG850, in a nutshell? Does it use a CPE-authentication
method or does it use a username-password combination?. My main
interest will be what would happen if I choose to switch CPE (FTTH
adapter) for some other brand/model, if I´ll have to deal with the
phone Co, or it´ll just work the same.

Sorry for the kinda stupid question but I think since FTTH is not yet
widespread, we could all end up learning something with the answer.

Thanks in advance,
FC