Nokia deploys next-generation fibre technology for a smarter, faster and greener Australian National Broadband Network

• NBN Co becomes the first operator in the Southern Hemisphere to adopt the MF-14 platform
• Nokia’s Lightspan MF-14 is the world’s first 6th generation broadband platform, enabling convergence of all services over a single fibre infrastructure
• Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller brings industry-leading software-defined networking platform, enabling network automation and smart insights to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction

Sydney, Australia – Nokia and NBN Co today announced the deployment of Nokia’s next-generation broadband platform and its Altiplano Access Controller to deliver a smarter, faster and greener nbn® network. The deployment is the first for the Lightspan MF-14 in the Southern Hemisphere.  

With unmatched capacity, space efficiency, low latency, intelligence, reliability and power efficiency, the MF-14 will help nbn address Australia’s broadband needs well into the future and help the company realise their Toward Zero Carbon Ambition.

Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller is a software-defined (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV) tool used to drive greater automation and virtualisation. It enables innovation in the way the network is managed with an open API to automate and program the network.

nbn recently welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to invest an additional $2.4 billion to roll out more fibre to communities across Australia. The new investment will enable an additional 1.5 million homes and businesses currently served by Fibre to the Node (FTTN) to upgrade to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). Coupled with the additional homes and businesses connected by fibre, nbn is evolving the FTTP technology platform to enable higher speed services and has recently successfully completed lab evaluations of 25Gbps FTTP technology.

Full fiber connections will help deliver faster broadband speeds, better reliability and energy efficiency , as well as support additional data capacity for the nbn network. These upgrades will help ensure eligible customers can more effectively work from home and operate online businesses, participate in online education, engage in telehealth consultations, stream entertainment and connect with friends and family.

nbn will be the first operator in the Southern Hemisphere to adopt the MF-14 platform following announcements by US and UK operators in October 2022. Deployment will commence in 2023.

Stephen Rue, CEO at nbn, said: “Rapid technological advances will play a critical role in driving the economic prosperity of our nation and in enabling our transition to a smarter, digitally enabled economy. By leading the deployment of this next-generation technology, we can help meet our nation’s data demands now and into the future.

“Together with our network investment that is pushing fibre deeper into communities and extending fixed wireless and satellite coverage and capabilities, we are helping unlock social and economic benefits for households, businesses and communities across Australia.

“More than 8.5 million households and businesses are connected to services over the nbn network – this equates to approximately 20 million people relying on our network every day.”

Ricky Corker, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Nokia, said: “Nokia and nbn have been partners for more than 10 years and we’re excited to continue to support nbn in this next technological evolution, deploying more advanced and energy-efficient networking technology. Using Nokia’s advanced fiber technology coupled with our network optimisation and automation capabilities, Nokia and nbn can meet customer demand for a faster, smarter, greener broadband network today and well into the future.”

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Lightspan MF-14, the world’s first Gen 6 optical line terminal (OLT)

The industry is entering a ‘fibre-for-everything’ era. Once operators have deployed fibre-to-the-home, their networks pass every other building in the street, as well as the homes, meaning they can connect businesses and other services. Fiber PON will be capable of supporting high bandwidth consumer services, industry 4.0 applications, business connectivity, 5G transport and smart city services. This creates more revenue opportunities, lowers TCO and significantly reduces overall power consumption.

This new broadband era, designated Broadband 6 by the World Broadband Association (WBBA), requires a new technical solution. Nokia’s pioneering Lightspan MF-14 is the first Gen 6 optical line terminal (OLT) in the world.

Based on new, advanced hardware and disaggregated software design, MF-14 is a generation leap in fibre access solutions and the only solution ready for mass delivery of 25G, 50G and 100G PON services.

• 4x higher capacity than previous generation, ensures smooth evolution to massive connectivity with 25, 50, 100.
• No single point of failures, ensuring the highest availability (six nines) in the market. This is important because consumers and business depend on broadband non-stop
• Sub millisecond latency for 5G transport and new array of industry 4.0 applications
• 20% higher power efficiency than the industry average so operators can decrease overall power consumption as they connect more points on fibre network and meet sustainability targets
• Modular software architecture for more agility for upgrading software and onboarding of new functionality, with much less effort and time.
• SDN programmability and open APIs to enable control function by Nokia or 3rd party network control functions
• Fast telemetry and digital mirror in the cloud for enhanced network overview
• For more details visit the web page