• Nokia and nbn show record-breaking multiple broadband speeds over live fiber network.
• nbn uses Nokia’s Lightspan MF fiber access platform, designed for delivering next-generation passive optical network (PON) at scale.
• Nokia is the only vendor supporting all next-generation PON technology options, allowing operators to choose the right strategy for their needs and business case.

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that NBN Co, Australia’s largest wholesale broadband provider, has successfully completed the world’s first live network demonstration of multiple next-generation PON technologies. Leveraging Nokia’s fiber access platform, nbn was able to deliver 10G, 25G, 50G and 100G broadband speeds over its existing fiber network. The successful results demonstrate how operators and wholesalers can effortlessly scale their fiber access network, addressing the growing demand for faster connectivity needed by premium users, enterprises, and Industry 4.0 for generations to come.  

Fiber is a futureproof, energy efficient technology that operators increasingly use to connect everything with multi-gigabit services. Today, operators worldwide are deploying up to 20Gb/s speeds with XGS-PON and 25G PON to meet growing bandwidth requirements, deliver better end user experiences, and create new revenue generating services. When the demand for speeds above 20Gb/s emerges, 50G and 100G will be able to address these needs.

Designed to support a full range of PON technologies, from GPON to 100G PON, Nokia’s Lightspan platform gives operators the choice and flexibility to optimize their network to their specific business case and needs. Using Nokia’s fiber platform, operators like nbn are able to add capacity to their networks, demonstrating the co-existence of multiple PON technologies. For example, nbn was able to show a combination of 10G, 25G and 50G, as well as 10G, 25G and 100G on the same fiber. This trial shows how operators can easily enhance 10G PON to symmetrical 25G PON and eventually evolve to 50G PON or 100G using the same passive and active fiber components.

Dion Ljubanovic, nbn Chief Network Officer, said: “This is an incredible result and demonstrates the fiber we deploy in our network is only limited by the capabilities of the equipment that will connect to it into the future. We are always looking for ways to push the capabilities of the nbn network and with the average Australian home forecast to download around 1 terabyte per month within the next decade, this successful demonstration showcases the world-class capabilities of nbn fiber to support the next generation of broadband services in the long term.”

Geert Heyninck, Vice President of Broadband Networks at Nokia, said: “There is a huge opportunity for operators to leverage their existing fiber broadband networks to efficiently add advanced services which goes way beyond consumer services. Think enterprise, mobile backhaul, Smart City, Industry 4.0. It’s important for service providers to have choices to match the right speed and cost points to meet the different use cases. As the industry’s first and only solution capable of supporting the full range of PON technologies from 10G to 25G, 50G, and even 100G, we can give operators the freedom and flexibility to meet their business needs while also helping to optimize network performance and reduce costs.”

Jaimie Lenderman, Principal Analyst and Research Manager at Omdia, said: “PON has been the technology of choice for broadband operators for years. With the recent, rapid global expansion of next-gen fiber access networks, the entire telecoms industry is now taking note. Nokia’s demonstration showcases the strength of the PON technology today and the multiple pathways available to support the applications of tomorrow. The flexibility to choose between 10G, 25G, 50G, and eventually 100G and beyond empowers operators to customize their networks based upon customer requirements and future service plans for residential, enterprise, and beyond.”