Telia Estonia, part of Telia Company, is trialling Adtran’s 50G PON technology as a next step in evolving its fibre broadband network. Adtran announced the proof-of-concept from Tallinn, where it will assess how 50G PON can run alongside GPON and XGS-PON services on a common infrastructure.
The trial builds on Telia Estonia’s existing deployment of Adtran’s fibre access platform. The aim is to give the operator a practical framework for introducing higher-capacity services as demand develops, without relying on disruptive network replacement.
Coexistence across PON generations
Adtran’s SDX 6400 Series 50G PON platform is at the centre of the trial. The platform is designed to let GPON, XGS-PON, and 50G PON run together on the same infrastructure, so providers can raise capacity while keeping existing optical distribution networks in place. The project will show Telia Estonia how future services can be delivered over a shared access platform.
For operators, the appeal of phased upgrades is clear. Rather than swapping out equipment across the network, they can introduce faster PON generations where the business case supports it, while existing customers stay on their current services.
Operator view
Janno Kriiska, CTO of Telia Estonia, said: “The 50Gbit/s test conducted together with Adtran demonstrates the significant potential of modern technologies and fiber-optic networks, while helping us prepare for the rollout of the next generation of digital services. The successful test is also good news for consumers, as this technology could enable the future delivery of home internet services to the mass market.”
Vendor view
Stuart Broome, GM of EMEA and APAC sales at Adtran, said: “One of the biggest advantages of 50G PON is that it gives service providers a practical way to expand network capabilities without disrupting existing services or replacing infrastructure that continues to deliver value. It enables providers to introduce new residential and enterprise offerings when the business case is right, while maintaining the operational simplicity needed to scale efficiently.”
The trial is a proof-of-concept rather than a commercial launch, and the announcement does not give timelines for rollout or customer pricing. It does show a route many European operators will consider: upgrading PON generations in stages over the fibre they already own, which matters for both cost and the pace of rollout.
