Zhone Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZHNE) has announced immediate availability of the MXK 194 and MXK 198 platforms, new 1U form-factor GPON Optical Line Terminal (OLTs) for small to mid-scale deployments.
The MXK 194 is a 1U Single Line Multi-Service (SLMS)-based platform providing four-port GPON FTTP connectivity supporting up to 256 ONTs/ONUs, 8x Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet and optional 2x 10-Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports, ONT Management and Control Interface (OMCI), link aggregation, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) support, and network management via the Zhone Management System (ZMS).
The MXK 198 is a 1U SLMS-based platform providing eight-port GPON FTTP connectivity supporting up to 512 ONTs/ONUs with all the other features and functionality provided by the MXK 194 platform.
The ZMS provides management and provisioning across the access network, from ONT/ONU to the central office OLT. Support for Zhone's EZ Touch Provisioning helps extend ZMS element and network management capabilities to the ONTs/ONUs and provides an automated approach for software upgrades and service provisioning on the ONTs/ONUs, according to Zhone.
In addition to being used separately, the two platforms can be stacked together for larger deployments.
“IDC forecasts 7.6 percent CAGR in the global FTTx market over the next five years,” said David Emberley, research manager of telecommunications equipment at IDC. “As service providers begin to look towards deep fiber deployments as an option, they also have unique deployment needs that need to be addressed. We believe that the smaller form-factor access platforms will play an important role in the broadband network build-out as service providers analyze cost and service efficiency factors. With the introduction of the MXK 194 and MXK 198 platforms, Zhone appears to be complementing its multi-service access approach and is poised to further strengthen its position in the FTTx market.”
For more information on FTTx/access equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyers Guide.