MuniNet, the publicly owned fibre optic network serving Western Kentucky, has deployed 400G coherent optical transport technology to address capacity constraints and support a migration path to 800G.
The upgrade allows the operator to significantly increase bandwidth on its existing fibre footprint without the need for additional physical infrastructure. The move is designed to support the region's growing demand for data-intensive applications, including 5G backhaul, high-speed residential broadband, and cloud connectivity.
Scaling for municipal demand
Municipal and community networks are increasingly facing the challenge of supporting bandwidth-intensive services while operating within tight capital budgets. For MuniNet, the deployment of coherent technology provides the spectral efficiency required to maximise its current assets.
Brent Shelton, chief technology officer at MuniNet said: "The partnership with Ekinops helped us make a huge leap forward in our transport infrastructure, which in turn significantly improved the customer offerings and experience." Shelton also noted that the solution provides the flexibility to scale capacity in response to customer demand while minimising service disruption.
The deployment features technology from the Ekinops360 optical portfolio, specifically the FlexRate optical networking solutions. MuniNet is currently integrating PM_400G coherent transponders into its core network, with full deployment of the upgraded transport layer expected to be complete later in 2026.
Roadmap to 800G and beyond
A key factor in the technology selection was the provision of a defined migration path to 800G and higher data rates. By using coherent transponders designed for future evolution, MuniNet aims to future-proof its investment against long-term traffic growth.
The solution also simplifies network management through a single integrated interface, providing "upgrade-on-demand" capabilities that allow the operator to scale without over-provisioning at the outset.
Kevin Antill, chief revenue officer for North America at Ekinops, added: "We are pleased to support MuniNet’s network transformation as they move toward a more agile and scalable infrastructure."
