EXFO will supply Openreach, BT’s local network business, with its first batch of MaxTester 635G copper test tool. The G.fast test set can be used to install and maintain G.fast and VDSL2 circuits and will assist Openreach with its G.fast pilot later this year.
The pilot will see ultrafast speeds provided to 25,000 premises in Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire and Gillingham, Kent (see Huawei and Nokia selected for BT Openreach G.fast roll-out).
G.fast allows delivery of ultrafast speeds over existing copper telephone cable using an extended bandwidth up to 106MHz. This allows operators to deploy ultrafast speeds with an incredible data rate of up to 1Gb/s over normal twisted pair telecom lines, albeit over shorter distances (see for example, Nokia and Deutsche Telekom check out 10Gb/s XG-FAST).
This new technology is a pillar of the strategy many operators have to take ultrafast speeds to as many homes and businesses as possible, in the fastest possible timeframe.
The MaxTester 635G is an in-field handheld tester designed specifically for ultrafast broadband applications. It supports ITU-T G.9700 and G.9701 recommendations as well as current VDSL2 and ADSL2+ technologies. It is also compatible with the latest VDSL2-35b and G.fast technologies as well as previous ADSL, ADSL2+ and VDSL2-8/12/17/30 interfaces.
With more than 30,000 units sold worldwide since it was introduced in January, the new MaxTester 635G extends the diagnostic capabilities to VDSL2-35b and G.fast while maintaining industry-leading ease of use and ability to seamlessly integrate into operators’ OSS systems and workflow process, according to EXFO.
Commenting on the announcement, Peter Bell, director network portfolio, Openreach said: “G.fast builds on our existing investment in fibre and after initial trials, our G.fast pilot will see us bringing ultrafast speeds to 25,000 premises in Cherry Hinton and Gillingham in 2016/17. EXFO will supply the first batch of testers, which means we are able to test and verify our ultrafast network to a high standard.”
Stéphane Chabot, EXFO's test and measurement vice-president added: “We are seeing significant interest from all our customers concerning the deployment of new G.fast technology solutions who are attracted by its ultrafast speeds, which can be achieved more economically than full fibre-to-the-home deployments.”
The MAX-635G will be on display in the Broadband Pavilion, D30, at the Broadband World Forum on October 18-20, 2016, in London.