SIRO and Huawei have successfully tested XGS-PON technology on SIRO's 100% fiber-optic network, providing speeds of up to 10 Gbps. According to SIRO, which is a joint venture between Vodafone and Irish utility ESB, this test demonstrates the power of what it attests is Ireland's first 100% fiber-optic broadband network. SIRO attributes the trial's success to its ongoing partnership with Huawei.
As XGS-PON is on the roadmap for SIRO services to future proof Ireland's broadband requirements, Huawei's technology plays an important role in SIRO's plans to provide Ireland with an enhanced level of ultra-broadband speeds, SIRO says. Trials of the XGS-PON technology will continue, and SIRO expects that the technology will address the needs of hi-tech multinationals, banks, and other businesses with high data demands.
"What is exciting about this trial is that these blistering fast speeds have been obtained using the exact same network that carries SIRO's 100% fiber-optic broadband services to homes and businesses across Ireland," said Ronan Whelan, SIRO commercial director. "All we are doing is changing the electronics at either end, with no further construction required. To put this capability into perspective, a 10 gigabit broadband connection would be able to transfer 1 gigabit of data in 0.8 seconds. That's a movie downloaded in a second. We see the speed and reliability limitations of copper networks and this trial proves how important fiber network rollouts are to provide the platform for growth in Ireland. SIRO can and will evolve towards multi-gigabit speeds as and when our customers demand it in the future. We are ready for it."
SIRO leverages the existing ESB network to create fiber to the building (FTTB) networks across Ireland. SIRO has an open-access model open to all Irish telecoms retailers, with Vodafone, Sky, Digiweb, Carnsore Broadband, Rocket Broadband, WestNet, Airwire, and Kerry Broadband all providing services currently. It is also accelerating competition in the wholesale broadband market through partnerships with enet and BT (see "SIRO, enet partner for FTTB").
According to SIRO, its 100% fiber-optic broadband network, with more than 120,000 premises passed in 25 towns, willadvance foreign direct investments in regional towns throughout Ireland, and enablelocal entrepreneurship as well.
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