New Zealand infrastructure operator Chorus has launched the “Chorus Accelerate” program, a new suite of wholesale copper and fiber-optic broadband services designed to encourage faster adoption of FTTx technologies. And it has selected IP routing technology from Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) to build the IP core network that will power the new program.
Chorus says it is making a multi-million dollar core network investment to support the launch of Chorus Accelerate. The new set of broadband products deliver greater speeds, enhanced HD video capacity, greater choice for the telecommunications industry and consumers, and a clear path to fiber to the premises (FTTP), Chorus says. The new services will be offered in addition to Chorus’s standard regulated products.
The new Chorus Accelerate Fibre offerings, which will become available July 1, include:
- Fibre 100, which will provide 100 Mbps downstream and 20 Mbps upstream, for NZ$40; Chorus calls it “the de facto entry level fiber plan”
- Fibre 200, which Chorus describes as including “a range” of offerings based on a 200-Mbps download speed
- Fibre Business, which will include a 1-Gbps product.
Chorus also will offer a pair of enhanced copper-based offerings, Boost HD and Boost VDSL, the latter of which comes with what Chorus says is a “fiber-ready” installation scheme.
“Fiber is the long-term solution for broadband in New Zealand, and our new products clearly set it apart from the copper-based products in terms of speed and value. Starting with a wholesale price of $40 for Fibre 100 is a conscious decision to make it the most attractive option for both the industry and end users as soon as fiber is available in our UFB areas,” said Mark Ratcliffe, Chorus CEO, via a press release.
To support the increased bandwidth demand created by the program, Chorus will deploy the Alcatel-Lucent 7950 Extensible Routing System (XRS). With its ability to handle up to 16 Tbps, the 7950 XRS has the capacity necessary to support high-bandwidth broadband services like high-definition video and cloud applications, the operator confirms.
Chorus says it is the first Asia-Pacific telecommunications provider to deploy Alcatel-Lucent’s 7950 XRS.
Alcatel-Lucent’s 7950 XRS will support Chorus’ extensive fiber-optic network by managing data flow through high-density 10-Gbps and 100-Gbps streams across the network while also providing a foundation for 400 Gbps connections as the technology becomes available.
An international study by Bell Laboratories, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent, found that ultra-fast broadband has the potential to generate $33 billion in productivity benefits over 20 years for New Zealand.
For more information on IP routers and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.
Want to learn more about FTTx innovation? Attend the Lightwave Optical Innovation Summit
The Lightwave Optical Innovation Summit will feature panels and presentations that will illuminate where optical innovation is required in carrier and enterprise/data center networks, what it should look like, and when it might appear. A wide range of experts from the user, technology development, academic, and analyst communities will offer their views on innovation in a variety of areas, including FTTx. Find out more about the Summit, which will be held in Austin, TX, July 14-16, at the Lightwave Optical Innovation Summit website.