25G PON
Highlights of FiberConnect 2024: PON-related products dominate
The Fiber Broadband Association’s flagship conference, FiberConnect 2024, concluded July 31, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee. It featuring 275 speakers and 286 exhibitors in the Expo Hall, with about half the attendees from operators and half representing vendors. The show provided a great opportunity to gauge the pulse of the fiber based broadband industry in North America.
Nokia and Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd deploy 25G PON
Nokia today announced that Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd (HKBN), a leading telecom and technology solutions provider in Hong Kong, will deploy its 25G PON to provide customers with some of the fastest, most reliable broadband access speeds in the region. The 25G PON deployment will deliver 20Gb/s symmetrical broadband speeds essential for new applications and business services powering today’s digital economy.
Based on the Quillion chipset, Nokia’s 25G PON fiber broadband solution (more below) allows HKBN to reuse its existing fiber broadband equipment to immediately address demand for more capacity and enhanced broadband services.
William Yeung, HKBN Co-Owner, Executive Vice-chairman and Group CEO: “Since 2004, HKBN has been the market leader in introducing Hong Kong’s first fiber-to-the-home broadband service. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, we have joined forces with Nokia to achieve a groundbreaking upgrade, proudly providing customers with a revolutionary 25Gbps broadband speed that meets their ever-increasing demands for network connectivity. Looking ahead, we will continue to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, investing resources to expand network coverage and upgrade infrastructure. This will enable more households and businesses to benefit from our exceptional and high-quality services.”
Geert Heyninck, Vice President of Broadband Networks at Nokia: “Nokia’s technology enables HKBN to upgrade its existing fiber network quickly and efficiently, leveraging both passive and active assets. With Nokia’s technology and HKBN ‘s citywide network, we’re leading customers into a new era of seamless connectivity.”
Roland Montagne, Director and Principal Analyst for FTTH at IDATE: “The momentum behind 25G PON continues to build with the number of deployments growing substantially over the past year. Clearly the ability to quickly upgrade GPON and XGS-PON to deliver true 25Gbs without having to deploy additional network elements is attractive for large operators like HKBN that want to deliver 25G PON services to its customers.”
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Nokia recently deployed XGS-PON services with Baktelcom in Azerbaijan. That network can be upgraded in the future to 25G PON which would increase capacity and stay ahead of demand for higher bandwidth.
Nokia has also deployed with Global Fiber Peru a new subaquatic and future-proof Optical, IP and XGS-PON fiber broadband network in the Amazon rainforest, helping to reduce the digital divide. The extensive network connects over 400 communities to multi-gigabit broadband access that is critical in today’s digital economy.
About Nokia’s 25G PON Solution:
• Nokia’s 25G PON increases service agility with operational efficiency.
• The fiber access node supports multiple fiber technologies including GPON, XGS-PON, 25GS-PON and Point-to-Point Ethernet to deliver a wide range of services.
Resources and additional information:
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References:
https://x.com/nokia/status/1181473779320594433
Nokia’s launches symmetrical 25G PON modem
U.S. fiber rollouts now pass ~52% of homes and businesses but are still far behind HFC
Google Fiber planning 20 Gig symmetrical service via Nokia’s 25G-PON system
HKT is first to deploy 50G PON technology in Hong Kong
HKT [1.] has become the first telecommunication service provider in Hong Kong to adopt the latest 50G PON technology, as the telco prepares to ramp up the delivery of applications that require ultra-high-speed broadband Internet connections for both home and commercial customers.
Note 1. HKT Limited is a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability.
50G fiber based broadband offers a significant step up in speed, with a specification download speed of up to 50Gbps. Paired with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, the remarkable increase in bandwidth supports smooth simultaneous multi-device connectivity of all kinds for users both at home and in a commercial setting. Latency also improves by a substantial 27% on average compared to that of a 10G fiber network. [The above latency is only applicable to designated servers. Network latency in other areas will vary depending on the operational load of individual servers as well as network traffic.]
Bruce Lam, CEO, Consumer, HKT, said, “NETVIGATOR has always been at the forefront of the market. We are delighted to become the first telecommunication service provider in Hong Kong to adopt 50G PON technology. With the development of smart homes, demand for high-speed multi-device connections has been increasing to cater for activities such as 8K video streaming, large video file transfer and sharing at home, online gaming and even real-time financial market monitoring and trading. We will continue to explore cutting-edge technologies to meet our customers’ future connectivity needs.”
Steve Ng, Managing Director, Commercial Group, HKT, said, “HKT Enterprise Solutions has consistently provided diverse digital solutions for our commercial customers. As AI and cloud applications become ubiquitous, enterprise customers’ demand for bandwidth, speed and low latency have continued to elevate.
For example, employees need to use cloud services, collaboration tools, and AI solutions within the office environment. Schools are actively implementing e-learning and remote teaching. Large-scale events such as exhibitions and concerts generate high demands for live streaming or AR/VR experience solutions. Through this latest technology, we are preparing ourselves for the network needs of different customers.”
By applying the innovative 50G PON technology HKT is able to further enhance the performance of its existing fiber network with ease. Currently, HKT’s 10G fiber broadband network covers over 2.4 million households across 50,000 residential buildings, as well as 8,000 commercial buildings in Hong Kong.
About HKT:
HKT is a technology, media, and telecommunication leader with more than 150 years of history in Hong Kong. As the city’s true 5G provider, HKT connects businesses and people locally and globally.
Our end-to-end enterprise solutions make us a market leading digital transformation partner of choice for businesses, whereas our comprehensive connectivity and smart living offerings enrich people’s lives and cater for their diverse needs for work, entertainment, education, well-being, and even a sustainable low-carbon lifestyle. Together with our digital ventures which support digital economy development and help connect Hong Kong to the world as an international financial centre, HKT endeavours to contribute to smart city development and help our community tech forward.
For more information, please visit www.hkt.com.
References:
Ooredoo Qatar is first operator in the world to deploy 50G PON
Türk Telekom and ZTE trial 50G PON, but commercial deployment is not imminent
Dell’Oro: XGS, 25G, and Early 50G PON Rollouts to Fuel Broadband Spending
Türk Telekom and ZTE trial 50G PON, but commercial deployment is not imminent
Türk Telekom and ZTE have carried out a 50G PON trial in Turkey. The two firms announced that their trial delivered speeds in excess of 50 Gbps in the downstream over a single fiber and did so in a way that was compatible with existing PON generations already deployed in Türk Telekom’s network. The PON technologies used were GPON and XGS-PON – the latter offering 10 Gbps symmetrical speeds – technologies alongside 50G PON.
“This interoperability significantly expands the OLT’s potential applications, paving the way for future services such as ultra-high bandwidth access, mobile xHaul, and deterministic campus networks in both home and enterprise environments,” ZTE said.
Yong Jie, CEO of ZTE Türkiye, said: “At the MWC 2022, ZTE unveiled the world’s first precise 50G PON prototype. In 2022, the 50G PON standard was finalized and received wide attention in the industry. It is expected that by 2025, the 50G PON industry chain will be ready for commercialization. As a frontrunner in the transformative journey to 50G PON, ZTE is pleased to empower Türk Telekom to accelerate the realization of their vision to provide unparalleled connectivity solutions to customers across Türkiye.”
In February, ZTE introduced the industry’s first symmetric 50G PON ONU, ZXEN G300-N9, featuring a 50G Ethernet optical port and seamless integration with the symmetric 50G PON Combo line card to meet high-speed access needs for government and enterprise campuses.
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Mehmet Beytur, Support Services and Procurement Management Assistant General Manager of Türk Telekom, said:
“As Türk Telekom, we are at the forefront of our country’s digital transformation, constantly spearheading innovative projects. Our successful collaboration with ZTE on the 3-in-1 50G PON Combo trial exemplifies this commitment. We will continue to take pioneering steps in innovative solutions.”
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However, 50G PON commercial deployment is not imminent as 25G PON is what’s being rolled out now by fiber facilities based telcos. Network operators have repeatedly indicated that they do not want to disrupt their optical distribution networks (ODNs) by moving to a new technology too quickly.
There are a number of technological barriers to 50G PON, one of which is alluded to in the ZTE announcement: while 50G PON can offer 50 Gbps-plus downstream speeds, it is not yet symmetrical, uplink speeds being half that or less.
Nonetheless, the trial is an important step in the ongoing development of 50G PON, even if future deployments are perhaps further away than the vendor community might like.
Dell’Oro pointed out that the coexistence of 50G PON with previous PON generations, and the implementation of combo PON, will be critical to the successful rollout of the technology. The analyst firm noted that “much more significant growth is expected after 2027, as operators begin to evolve their 10Gbps PON networks to next-generation technologies.”
References:
https://www.telecoms.com/fibre/t-rk-telekom-and-zte-trial-50g-pon
Nokia’s launches symmetrical 25G PON modem
Dell’Oro: XGS, 25G, and Early 50G PON Rollouts to Fuel Broadband Spending
Dell’Oro: Broadband access equipment sales to increase in 2025 led by XGS-PON deployments
Omdia: Cable network operators deploy PONs
Omdia Surveys: PON will be a key part of network operator energy reduction strategies
Nokia’s launches symmetrical 25G PON modem
Nokia today announced the launch of a new symmetrical 25G PON [1.] fiber modem. Helping to further accelerate 25G PON deployments, the compact solution can easily be installed on a wall, inside a building, or in an outdoor enclosure to immediately deliver internet speeds that are 20x faster than current gigabit solutions. Once deployed, operators can leverage their existing fiber network to offer new premium residential, business, or anyhaul services that unlock additional revenue streams.
Note 1. 25G PON, also known as 25GS PON, is a next-generation PON that offers a number of benefits. It can provide 10Gb/s services or higher, premium enterprise services, and 5G transport.
Demand for high-speed broadband access is accelerating with end-users increasingly seeking quality multi-gigabit services to power their homes and businesses. From the Metaverse and cloud gaming to cyber security, and Industry 4.0 applications, users want multi-gigabit services that can meet their evolving broadband needs.
Nokia’s new 25G PON fiber modem allows operators to establish a future-ready network that can immediately address the growing demand for more capacity and enhanced broadband services. The new 25G PON solution enables operators to quickly upgrade their existing GPON or XGS PON network to deliver true 10Gbs speeds and beyond with unprecedented ease. For enterprises, this can help significantly improve business productivity and enhance connectivity to the cloud or value-added applications located in data centers. For consumers and power users, the solution provides immediate access to additional capacity needed to support bandwidth-hungry applications such as AI, gaming, or security.
25G PON Wavelength Plan:
Image Credit: Nokia
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Geert Heyninck, General Manager of Broadband Networks at Nokia, said: “The 25G PON eco-system is growing and with it, the technology that continues to bring concrete business benefits to customers. The market for 25G PON is here and with the new fiber modem, we have a very efficient 25G solution that can support all types of services and applications in the fiber-for-everything era. 25G PON continues to be the easiest, most cost-effective and power-efficient way for services providers to upgrade and maximize the use of their existing fiber network to deliver ultra-fast broadband access.”
Jeff Heynen, Vice President, Broadband Access and Home Networking at Dell’Oro Group, said: “25G PON deployments and the 25GS-PON MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) Group has grown substantially over the past year. One of the driving factors for the growing interest in 25GS-PON is its ability to coexist with GPON and XGS-PON without having to deploy additional feeder fiber, splitters, or other ODN elements. This past year we’ve seen large operators like Google indicate plans to make 25G PON service available to its customers while the MSA continues to expand, encompassing a diverse range of service providers, equipment vendors, and component suppliers.”
The new 25G PON fiber modem complements Nokia’s growing 25G PON portfolio, which includes the Lightspan FX, DF and MF fiber access platforms (OLTs) and the industry’s first 25G PON sealed fiber access node designed for cable operators.
25G PON ONT product details:
- Coexistence with GPON, XGS-PON and 50G PON on the same ODN
- Hardened and compact design for various deployment practices and environments
- Symmetrical 25 Gb/s throughput using pluggable optics
- Frequency and time-of-day synchronization functions for mobile transport
- Can be used to connect cell sites to transport mobile traffic over PON network in plug-and-play mode, delivering the required capacity, latency and synchronization required for 5G networks.
- Supports demarcation point functions for enterprise and wholesale services.
- Nokia has shipped more than one million 25G PON ready ports to date.
- 25G PON is ready to be activated in more than 150 networks worldwide.
- The eco-system for 25G PON is mature with more than 60 operators, system vendors, chipset and optical suppliers part of a MSA focused on standardizing and accelerating the technology.
- Some of the operators currently deploying 25G PON include Google Fiber, EPB, Vodafone Qatar and OGI.
- There are more than 30 operators trialing 25G PON for residential, mobile fronthaul and business connectivity applications.
References and additional information:
Nokia 25G ONT
Lightspan FX
Lightspan SF-8M sealed fiber access node
Lightspan MF fiber platform
25G PON
Google Fiber planning 20 Gig symmetrical service via Nokia’s 25G-PON system
Orange and Nokia demo 600Gb/sec transmission over a 914 km optical network; Nokia 25G PON
Dell’Oro: Broadband access equipment sales to increase in 2025 led by XGS-PON deployments
Dell’Oro: XGS, 25G, and Early 50G PON Rollouts to Fuel Broadband Spending
Passive Optical Network (PON) technologies moving to 10G and 25G
Nokia and Proximus (Belgium) demonstrate 1st implementation of 25GS-PON