Etisalat Group and Chine-based optical systems manufacturer Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. report they have signed an agreement to test 40-Gbps GPON technology across Etisalat's footprint in the United Arab Emirates.
Etisalat Group and Huawei described their roadmap for trialing a "first of its kind" 40-Gbps fiber-optic broadband network that Etisalat hopes can eventually offer more reliable, faster, and affordable broadband services to homes and businesses. The technology is designed to provide the speed and bandwidth required for such services as voice over IP, high-speed Internet, and IPTV.
Huawei was selected as a supplier for Etisalat’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in 2008 (see "Etisalat picks Huawei for FTTH network in UAE"). The companies worked together to test out 10G GPON in 2010 (see “Etisalat, Huawei test 10G GPON”). Moving to 40G is the next logical step, given its scalability and compatibility with legacy infrastructure, the vendor asserts.
"The future of the digital society remains a promising one as people, businesses and cities become more profoundly connected through vibrant information and communication technologies," said Hatem Bamatraf, chief technology officer at Etisalat. "Etisalat Group remains committed to bringing its customers the latest and most advanced services. We have focused on constantly enhancing our networks, creating strong partnerships, and bringing innovative technologies to our markets."
Huawei is one of the first vendors to develop the faster variant of GPON, which is based on time- and wavelength-division multiplexed approach (TWDM). The vendor exhibited a second generation TWDM-PON prototype system at the FTTH Conference Europe in Stockholm, Sweden, last month (see “Huawei unveils TWDM PON system prototype”).
"We look forward to pioneering new fiber-optic services in the Middle East together with Etisalat and making it possible to enjoy a more immersive communication experience at home or in the office," said Alan Wang, president of Huawei, Etisalat Global Key Account. "The 40G GPON technology will further enable Etisalat to integrate future upgrades with existing GPON deployment plans, giving more control over the total cost of operation throughout the entire life cycle of the network."
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