The 25GS-PON MSA Group, dedicated to the development and deployment of symmetrical 25-Gbps PON systems, has announced several new members, including AT&T. Joining the service provider as recent additions to the group are CommScope, Cortina Access, Feneck, HiLight Semiconductor, Hisense Broadband, and Semtech. The addition of these companies, the first since the MSA was unveiled last October, brings the membership roster to 17.
The new members come aboard as the MSA promulgates its first 25 Gigabit Symmetrical Passive Optical Network specification (see "Operators, vendors combine to create 25GS-PON MSA"). They join founding members Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI), Chorus, Chunghwa Telecom, Ciena, MACOM, MaxLinear, NBN Co., Nokia, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., and Tibit Communications.
While the IEEE has developed standards for 25G and 50G EPON (see “IEEE 802.3ca 25G/50G-EPON standard approved”), the ITU has yet to do so for the world of GPON and XGS-PON architectures. The MSA has stepped into this breach to offer an upgrade path from 10-Gbps XGS-PON that is an alternative to NG-PON2, which leverages multiple 10-Gbps wavelengths and tunable ONT transceivers. Nokia has already announced a 25GS-PON capability (see “Nokia offers symmetrical 25G PON via ISAM FX”).
“The addition of such a wide range of network operators, equipment vendors, and component suppliers to the 25GS-PON MSA is evidence of the technology’s importance for 5G xHaul and enterprise services,” said Jeff Heynen, vice president, broadband access and home networking for market research firm Dell’Oro Group, via an MSA press release. “25G PON’s ability to co-exist with XGS-PON and reuse existing fiber plant makes it extremely attractive to operators around the world.”
More information on the MSA and the 25GS-PON v1.0 specification can be found at www.25gspon-msa.org.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.