On the heels of the announcement that SK Telecom of Korea has deployed a combination of PON technologies from Nokia to support as much as 52.5 Gbps on a single fiber (see "Nokia, SK Broadband combine PON technologies to support 52.5-Gbps FTTB"), Openreach, BT's local network business unit, says it is conducting trials of the same capabilities using technology from Huawei.
The trial sees a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection between the University of Suffolk, Ipswich Exchange, and BT's Adastral Park R&D center running a combination of 40-Gbps NG-PON2, 10-Gbps XGS-PON, and 2.5-Gbps GPON over the same fiber (see "Huawei intros next-generation PON offering"). Specifications for the respective PON approaches were developed with such coexistence in mind.
Openreach says that the University of Suffolk has been using the service for the past two weeks. The university will continue to use the capacity during the duration of the trial (which Openreach did not detail) to support research as well as stream lectures, design games, deliver online courses, and for other uses.
"The trial proves that not only is our FTTP network fit for the future, but with the right equipment in the customer's home and at the exchange, we can tailor speeds to suit their individual requirements," said Clive Selley, Openreach CEO. "So whether you're a small business specializing in graphic design or a keen gamer using UHD and virtual reality, we'll make sure your communications provider can offer you the speeds and value for money services that you need.
"I'm looking forward to discussing this technology breakthrough further with our communications providers to see how it could help shape their future plans," Selley concluded.
In a comment to the Nokia story referenced above, a Huawei source pointed out that the company conducted a similar demonstration with China Telecom in 2011.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy has covered fiber optics for more than 15 years, and communications and technology for more than 30 years. He is responsible for establishing and executing Lightwave's editorial strategy across its digital magazine, website, newsletters, research and other information products. He has won multiple awards for his writing.
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