2020.06.12 – Open Broadband News

Ponder XGS-PON no more!

As demand for fiber networks continues to grow, Broadband Forum has expanded its BBF.247 Optical Network Unit (ONU) Certification Program to include XGS-PON.

This latest update extends the program to a variety of key features needed by operators deploying XGS-PON networks.  The certification is just one piece of Broadband Forum’s vision to provide network operators with the tools, open specifications, and open source references necessary to bring new services and technologies to their customers more rapidly. Certified ONU products can be deployed quickly, with improved interoperability to existing OLT equipment already deployed. Similarly, certified ONU products will also work directly with newer Broadband Forum specifications, including the forthcoming virtual OMCI specifications and software defined access networks.

“Our existing G-PON certification has made a significant impact on ensuring products meet standards, and this latest expansion of the program will give operators the confidence to roll out mass XGS-PON deployments,” said Robin Mersh, CEO at Broadband Forum. “We now want to instill this same assurance in the industry for upcoming ITU PON technology, including XGS-PON and NG-PON2. XGS-PON is a major step in network evolution, supporting the expansion of 5G and through BBF.247 certification, we can ensure network interoperability.”

Broadband access equipment revenue feels effects of Covid-19

According to a report by Dell’ Oro Group, total global revenue for broadband access equipment dropped to $2.5 billion, down 15 percent year-on-year from Q1 2019.

The first quarter activity, which is seasonally slow to begin with, was hurt by supply chain disruptions throughout Asia-Pacific as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic

“The first half of 2020 will give way to a sustained rebound in broadband equipment spending in the second half of the year,” said Jeff Heynen, Senior Research Director, Broadband Access and Home Networking. “The need to expand residential broadband speeds and availability will ultimately win out over the current macroeconomic slowdown.”

Full-fiber is key connection in new job creation, says Cebr  

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) forecasts that technology will “be a key feature of the [UK’s] recovery” from the economic effects of the pandemic and that implementing full-fiber will create an additional 1.2 million skilled jobs by 2025.

The report – titled “Using Digital to Revive the UK” – also claims the rollout of a full-fiber network will see the proportion of people working from home in England and Wales rise to 25% once the pandemic is over.

Cebr deputy chairman Douglas McWilliams suggested that “a more online economy,” with 25% of the workforce working remotely thanks to a full-fiber network, “would certainly boost the Flat White Economy.”

Crikey mate! Australian researchers get 44.2Tbps from single optical chip

A research team from Australia’s Monash, Swinburne and RMIT universities has recorded what they claim to be the world’s fastest internet speed from a single optical chip of 44.2 Tbps. Researchers were able to load-test the network using 76.6km of ‘dark’ optical fibers installed across Melbourne.

Published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, it is thought that these findings have the potential to not only fast-track the next 25 years of Australia’s telecommunications capacity, but also the possibility for this home-grown technology to be rolled out across the world. The research team was led by Dr Bill Corcoran (Monash), Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell (RMIT) and Professor David Moss (Swinburne).

Distinguished Professor Mitchell said the future ambition of the project is to scale up the current transmitters from hundreds of gigabytes per second towards tens of terabytes per second without increasing size, weight, or cost.

Madagascar modernizes telecoms infrastructure

Madagascar will launch a USD47.2 million project to modernize the country’s public sector telecoms infrastructure, after the country’s Senate approved the plans on 5 June.

The project, which will be implemented by Huawei with financing from Exim Bank of China, will deploy secure fiber-optic and LTE networks, as well as data centers, surveillance cameras, videoconferencing, IP telephony and e-mail services.

According to the Ministry of Posts, Telecoms and Digital Development (MPTDN), the upgrade program is intended to enhance government efficiency, optimize public spending on communications, improve public security and urban traffic management, and promote further digitalization in the public sector.