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Energia Communications trials G.fast and TWDM-PON in Japan

Alcatel-Lucent and Energia Communications have joined forces to conduct the first field trial in Japan of next-generation ultra-broadband access technologies that will pave the way for the delivery of higher capacity business and residential services, including ultra-high definition 8K television and video-on-demand.

Japan has one of the highest penetrations of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services in the world and connections have reached more than 37 million households in September 2014, according to the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. With the first 8K-resolution TV test broadcasts scheduled to begin in 2016 and the country hosting a major global sporting event in 2018, network traffic is expecting to increase at a dramatic rate. As a result Energia Communications has begun to investigate the possibility of increasing its access network capacity to meet future high-volume traffic demands from its consumer and enterprise customers.

The trial is using Alcatel-Lucent’s G.fast technology to increase the speed of Energia Communications’ existing copper network, enabling it to deliver up to gigabit broadband inside multi-dwelling buildings. Alcatel-Lucent’s TWDM-PON technology is being used over the service provider’s existing passive optical network (PON)-based FTTH network, making it possible to increase network capacity up to 40Gb/s using multiple wavelengths on the same fibre.

Alcatel-Lucent says the trial showcases the possibility of delivering FTTH-like speeds over existing copper networks using G.Fast where fibre cannot be deployed, for example inside multiple-dwelling buildings. It also demonstrates that TWDM-PON can coexist on the same fibre with 1Gb/s EPON, providing a total capacity of up to 40G.

Alcatel-Lucent’s IP/MPLS 7750 Service Router will be used to backhaul traffic from the access aggregation network to Energia Communications’ core network. These servers will ensure a stable and reliable core network that will support the increased demand of each type of services, the company says.

Nicolas Bouverot, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent Japan, added: “Alcatel-Lucent is the only vendor who has announced commercial TWDM-PON and G.fast products, and we have a strong service routing presence in Japan. The need for a faster broadband network is rapidly increasing in Asia and in Japan where the competition for speed is tough. Using its TWDM-PON, G.fast, and IP/MPLS Service Router technologies, Alcatel-Lucent can build a competitive network for its customers that helps them to smoothly evolve to meet future customer demands.”

Alcatel-Lucent was the first vendor to announce its TWDM-PON capabilities, which have also been tested by Vodafone (see Alcatel-Lucent reduces cost barriers to TWDM-PON).

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