GFiber Labs has completed its test of 50 Gbps broadband speeds over its existing fiber network, leveraging Nokia's Lightspan MF fiber access platform.
The trial builds on the 25G PON deployment GFiber Labs announced with Nokia last year. It demonstrates how different PON technologies can be combined on the same fiber to evolve their broadband offerings.
Service provider momentum around 25G PON services continues to grow. As GFiber's speed rises, operators have a path to 50G PON upgrades and beyond. Nokia can support all next-generation PON options, with 10G and 25G products available today, 50G in trials, and 100G PON as a technology demonstrator.
Liz Hsu, senior director of product and billing for GFiber, said it sees a future in which the internet must meet the demands of increasing users, devices, and an array of bandwidth-hungry applications.
“Multigig is already the new norm,” she said. “But to meet the challenge of this connected future, we are preparing to densify our network further so when bandwidth needs inevitably multiply, we’ll be ready. “50G PON has the advantage of co-existing with XGS-PON and 25G PON to make the technology transition easier, which may make it the solution for the future.”
John Fletcher, senior research analyst for telecommunications, media and technology at S&P Global, said that GFiber's 50G test highlights further awareness of the potential of gigabit speeds.
“In markets where GFiber operates, it has rattled its competitors to keep pace with their ambitious speeds,” he said. “Monday’s announcement is an extension of these efforts. This lifts all boats regarding broadband speeds for US homes in its markets, and ultimately for its own advertising business.”
He added Nokia, which has established a foothold in the broadband market in anticipation of BEAD funding going to states this year and next, also benefits.
“The announcement also highlights Nokia’s position as a pioneer in the North American broadband infrastructure market, which is poised to start receiving government Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funds this year and next,” Fletcher said. “Last August, the company was one of the first to announce compliance with BEAD’s Buy American rules when it announced a partnership with Sanmina to manufacture fiber components in Wisconsin.”
Focus on XGS-PON
As a newer insurgent provider, GFiber has had the luxury of deploying XGS-PON, the latest fiber broadband technology that enables 10 Gbps symmetrical speeds.
GFiber has upgraded its network to XGS-PON, enabling eight gig speeds in the cities it operates today. Google Fiber rolled out 5 and 8 Gig in San Antonio in June.
Hsu said it is “already seeing high interest in our multi-gig products.”
With the completion of its San Antonio XGS-PON fiber launch, nearly all GFiber customers in single-family homes can now access the provider’s full range of symmetrical multi-gig products.
“This is a fundamentally different way to deploy a better network,” Hsu said. “GFiber is upgrading our entire network infrastructure — proactively replacing our GPON network with XGS PON — not picking and choosing specific neighborhoods or streets, to ensure we have a cutting-edge network for today and one that can support our customers’ future.”
Building 25G momentum
As it moves forward with its XGS-PON plans, GFiber has set an aggressive path to deploy 25 G PON. The service provider plans to deploy Nokia’s 25 G PON platform across all of its markets by the end of the year.
GFiber’s 50G PON test builds on its 25 G PON deployment with Nokia in October. It leveraged Nokia’s 25G PON solution to enhance its fiber network and deliver a new 20 Gbps broadband service to customers through GFiber Labs.
It is one of many providers moving in the 25G direction. Other notable providers, including EPB, Vodafone Qatar and OGI, are in various stages of rolling out 25G PON. EPB, for one, rolled out its community-wide 25 G internet service to residential and commercial customers in August 2022.
GFiber Labs began providing 20Gbps service to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the United Way of Utah County. It has also extended service to subscribers in select markets, including Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham, and markets in Arizona and Iowa.
However, GFiber sees an even broader rollout of 25G. “We’re now working to deploy Nokia 25G PON in all of our markets by the end of the year so that we can extend access to GFiber Lab’s 20 Gig plan,” Hsu said. “We already have customers putting this new level of service to the test in North Carolina’s Triangle, and we’re adding new customers to the early access program in select markets.”
In addition to offering next-generation speeds, GFiber highlights the coexistence between GPON and XGS-PON without deploying additional feeder fiber, splitters, or other ODN elements.
Leveraging Nokia’s fiber solution, GFiber demonstrated how it could run 10/25G PON and 25/50G PON broadband service over its fiber network.
“This showcased the network flexibility and scalability it can deliver to keep pace with the growing demand for multi-gigabit services in the future,” Hsu said. “Google Fiber is already at the forefront of the multi-gigabit evolution, having launched the first 25G PON commercial services with Nokia in 2023.”
Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.