Deutsche Telekom taps ADTRAN for Access 4.0 OLT network deployments

ADTRAN Inc. (NASDAQ:ADTN) says it will supply elements of its SDX optical line terminal (OLT) range to Deutsche Telekom (DT) for the German incumbent carrier’s Access 4.0 fiber broadband network initiative. DT, an existing ADTRAN customer, will use the OLTs as well as ADTRAN’s Mosaic Cloud Platform software-defined networking (SDN) enabled management system to enhance its current GPON capabilities as well as pave the way for future deployment of 10-Gbps XGS-PON capabilities.

The Access 4.0 initiative sees DT move toward integrating SDN, disaggregated hardware components, and network functions virtualization (NFV) technologies to create an open ecosystem that will enhance its fiber to the premises (FTTP) capabilities. Access 4.0 will be based on principles defined by the Open Networking Foundation’s SDN-Enabled Broadband Access (SEBA) reference architecture, for which ADTRAN was a partner in the development (see “ONF puts new strategic plan pieces in place”).

“The Access 4.0 program constitutes a true paradigm shift, not only in terms of technology, but also ecosystem, collaboration, and agility, through its ability to break vendor lock-in and reduce time-to-market,” stated Robert Soukup, Deutsche Telekom senior program manager. “A key to our success will be ADTRAN’s domain experience, their history of working with DT on its large-scale access initiatives, and their commitment to delivering an open, scalable, and disaggregated solution.”

The initial phase of the program will see DT focus on scaling its fiber access network to support a mix of residential, enterprise, and backhaul services. ADTRAN say its SDX OLT line will integrate into Access 4.0’s SEBA-based architecture to provide carrier-grade GPON and XGS-PON service delivery.

Dan Whalen, chief product officer at ADTRAN, noted in an interview that the open nature of the Access 4.0 will require the SDX OLTs to be interoperable with third-party platforms (particularly ONTs). DT’s philosophy also means that it will likely adopt OLTs from other vendors at some point, he acknowledges. However, the current contract contains market share commitments over the next several years, Whalen said. Given the fact that DT’s fiber footprint currently only passes 5% or 6% of German premises, in Whalen’s estimation, the opportunity for FTTP expansion is significant. Whalen expects ADTRAN to recognize revenue from SDX OLT deployment within Access 4.0 beginning in the first quarter of next year.

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