Ooredoo Qatar is first operator in the world to deploy 50G PON
Ooredoo Qatar announced that it has become the first operator in the world to deploy 50G PON (Passive Optical Network) connectivity, the 50 Gbps-capable fiber-based access connection for consumers. According to Ooredoo, the 50G PON technology, which has been adopted as an ITU standard, delivers fiber-based access connections with speeds of up to 50 Gbps on a single connection.
The 50G-PON system capitalizes on fundamental advances in the optical transceiver components working in conjunction with enhanced error correction and coding. It also introduces key innovations in activation procedures, contention-based operation, and expanded cryptographic features. With these improved capabilities, the 50G-PON system is ready to meet the new, and demanding, requirements of emerging services.
This new technology enables consumers to use high-bandwidth latency-sensitive applications such as 8k-interactive video applications, online collaboration and coordination solutions, 3D cloud design, high-graphic/high-quality AI applications, etc.
Dell’Oro Group believes total 50G-PON equipment revenue will increase from less than $3M in 2023 to $1.5B in 2027. Much more significant growth is expected after 2027, as operators begin to evolve their 10Gbps PON networks to next-generation technologies.
Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “We’re proud to be the first operator globally capable of deploying such powerful technology, which aligns perfectly with our overarching aim of upgrading our customers’ worlds. We have long had a strategic commitment to partnering with global leaders in technology and innovation, enabling us to leverage both our expertise and experience and our partners’ capabilities. This latest launch is an excellent example of the benefits we, and our customers, enjoy as a result of such partnerships. We look forward to further enhancing our offering as technology develops ever further in the years to come.”
Ooredoo’s 50G PON technology can meet the bandwidth requirements of both consumers and enterprises. Initial deployment will be for B2B customers and areas that require high-speed connectivity, with roll-out to consumers – for 8k content and AR/VR gaming, as an example – to follow.
ITU-T standards for 50G PON:
In April 2021, the ITU-T reached a major mile-stone, consenting the first three Recommendations defining a 50G PON system:
- General Requirements (G.9804.1): The legacy features linked to deployed fiber infra-structure are complemented by support for new services requiring high capacity, efficiency, low latency, and security. Coexistence with, and migration from, the installed PON systems are essential.
- Common Transmission Convergence Layer (ComTC) specification (G.9804.2): This is defined in a line rate agnostic way and thus applicable to future single-wavelength time-division multiplexing (TDM) and multi-wavelength time-and-wavelength-divi-sion multiplexing (TWDM) PON systems.
- The single-wavelength 50G-PON PMD (G.9804.3) specification is the first in the HS-PON PMD family.
References:
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9743347
PLDT has successfully tested 50G PON, the technology that powers the company’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service across the Philippines.
“After successfully testing XGS PON in 2021, we are testing the latest 50GPON, which will allow five times faster speeds than XGSPON and 20 times faster speeds than GPON, which is the most widely used technology by fiber providers in the Philippines,” said Arvin Siena, vice president and head of network strategy and transformation office at PLDT and Smart.
As of end-September 2023, the PLDT Group has expanded its total fiber footprint to over 1.1 million cable kilometers, consisting of over 0.2 million cable kilometers of international fiber and about 0.9 million cable kilometers of domestic fiber.
According to PLDT, its network has reached more than 17.3 million homes in 69% of the country’s municipalities/towns, while PLDT’s total number of fiber ports rose to 6.15 million covering over 18,000 barangays nationwide. [Editor’s note: A barangay is the smallest local government unit in the Philippines.]
“This latest milestone is a testament to the Group’s commitment to always be ahead in harnessing the best technologies and innovations to deliver enhanced services and elevated customer experience to the Filipino public,” said Eric Santiago, head of network at PLDT and Smart, in a statement.
“While we have been offering boosted speeds to our customers even before the pandemic, this new technology further ensures that we can provide the best and fastest service to homes nationwide,” he added.
https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/pldt-first-to-trial-50g-pon-in-the-philippines