Even as telecom operators around the world are rolling out next-generation 5G Mobile Broadband (MBB), enhanced Fixed Broadband (FBB) technology is emerging as a key element in delivering faster Broadband speeds.
Enhanced FBB technology is also the key to providing consumers and businesses with advanced video, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and other next-generation services.
For example, in countries where fiber to the Home (FTTH) networks have been widely deployed, such as China, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, service providers are now using EPON or GPON technology to provide symmetrical 1Gb speeds and enhanced FMC services. Several providers are already planning how to further enhance their products by deploying 10G PON to upgrade to 10Gbit/s speeds on all-fiber lines.
the same time, in European countries where telecom operators have ample copper wire resources and the cost of building new FTTH networks is prohibitive, some pioneering service providers have even used traditional copper cables to provide customers with gigabit speeds and related services.
Such moves are paving the way for the global deployment of 5G services. The enhanced FBB can provide the bandwidth capacity, stability, reliability, security, and quality of service required for 5G transmission. In addition, FBB has many key advantages over numerous mobile base stations, such as lower network construction costs, higher network utilization, lower operational costs, and greater deployment flexibility.
While enhanced copper cables can support services in some cases, service providers are laying more fiber to support 5G, FMC and other advanced services. As a result, shipments of fiber-optic devices such as THE XGs-PON port and the entire PON OLT port have surged in the past few quarters.
Telecom operators are installing more fiber into their networks to support 5G, provide FMC and other advanced services, and envision 50G PON and higher versions to ensure easy, effective and efficient upgrades to FBB networks. The last thing they want to do is tear down and rebuild their fiber-optic networks, but some have to because their copper networks are ageing.
Therefore, service providers must choose network devices that can be upgraded and evolved to meet their future bandwidth needs. This means that they should choose platforms that support multiple generations of technology, not just GPON or 10G PON. This also means that they should choose platforms that allow them to reuse and update their existing network resources to reduce upgrade costs. For example, they can choose platforms that enable them to reuse existing OLT chassis/racks, ODF, fiber optics, pipes, and roadside cabinets to support 5G access. This not only ensures a fast build of 5G, but also improves the efficiency of FTTx.
