• New network deployments support high-bandwidth services for residential and commercial deployments

Dallas, Texas – Nokia today announced that Metronet, the largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber-optic network provider in the U.S., is deploying Nokia’s next-generation PON technology to deliver 10Gb/s speeds to subscribers with an elegant upgrade path to 25G. Metronet is rolling out XGS-PON in eight new markets with more communities planned.

Metronet operates Fiber-to-the-Premise networks that connect homes, businesses and cities with symmetrical gigabit speeds that support high-bandwidth applications such as HD video streaming, surveillance, gaming and more. Metronet is servicing and constructing in 16 states, and customers include homes, local businesses, retail shops, hospitals, government offices and schools.

Nokia’s XGS-PON systems allow Metronet to leverage its existing and newly constructed fiber infrastructure to deploy blazing fast 10G broadband speeds with a cost-efficient path to 25G. Metronet is using Nokia’s ONT Easy Start SaaS to speed up and simplify the provisioning of fiber modems in customer homes.

Kevin Stelmach, President of Commercial Markets, Metronet said: “Nokia is our trusted partner, and its technology is enabling us to future-proof our investments in fiber as we continue to expand our network. We are also able to future-proof the cities and communities that we serve with a communications network that can grow with them, encouraging business investment with virtually limitless capacity available when and where it’s needed. We are already getting great feedback from our existing and new business and consumer customers who are excited about the possibility to access more bandwidth at very affordable prices.”

Ed Cholerton, President, Nokia North America, said: “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Metronet to provide a system that not only meets the bandwidth demands of its customers today, but also allows backward compatibility with its existing equipment. Metronet is deploying a system uniquely capable of delivering GPON, 10G PON and 25G PON without having to replace hardware. Metronet is bringing the future of connectivity to cities across the country and using Nokia’s next-gen PON technology to connect underserved regions.”