Doing 25 Gbps in built up area
Broadband network builder G.Network and technology provider Xantaro are testing fibre broadband using Nokia 25G PON equipment in a bid to help the UK match more technically advanced countries such as Slovakia, Panama and Moldova, whose infrastructure is ranked higher by Speedtest data by Ookla. The pact between the two idealistic technology providers raises hopes that UK will one day have a genuinely high speed Internet. Though London is one of the most influential cities in the world its broadband speeds lag embarrassingly behind many countries in the developed world, with its data being outpaced by that traversing countries such as Liechtenstein, Malta and Latvia. Citizens of Romania can download data at an average 214 Mbps, while in parts of London such as Kingston Upon Thames, BT is charging for a 7Mbps service that regulator Ofcom allows it to market as high-speed broadband (see pic below).
Broadband supplier G.Network is hoping to change this through its role in the UK government’s Project Gigabit, claimed its CEO Kevin Murphy. By rolling out its full fibre network across 13 central London boroughs it says it can help ‘future-proof’ the capital. The Ookla figures suggest that the UK’s future has already materialised in the 46 countries ranked higher in the Speedtest league table. Some critics, including several former executives at former monopoly BT, say that the UK’s broadband market mechanism is broken and real network speeds have a long way to go to catch up with countries such as Romania. However, Murphy is optimistic for the future of UK broadband. “This test shows that our network can provide speeds that future generations of business will demand,” said Murphy.
Now G.Network is conspiring with Xantaro a specialist in planning and proofing high-performance networks. Together they’re testing whether Nokia’s 25G PON technology can satisfy the need for bandwidth among London’s businesses without service providers needing to resort to leased lines for special bandwidth intensive customers. The 25G test, carried out last month in central London demonstrated symmetrical speeds (both download and upload speeds) more than double those currently delivered on the same fibre using XGS-PON technology, said a Xantaro release.
Xantaro CTO Steve Kingdom said Nokia’s 25G technology is perfect for high-bandwidth consuming businesses in London and across the UK and this trial has proven that forward-looking network operators can bring next generation technology to companies across the country.
Nokia’s 25G PON service is a new optical module within the existing FWLT-C Multi-PON cards within the existing OLT (fibre access node), along with Nokia’s 25G PON ONU (fibre modem) at the end user.
“[This technology] provides key benefits over and above those provided by current networks,” said Nokia’s UK CEO Phil Siveter, “It has huge capacity and is simple to install into existing access technology used in exchanges, data centres, businesses and campuses.” The UK’s broadband service providers would have no excuse not to boost the capacity of their existing fibre assets, seize high bandwidth opportunities and provide the scale needed for the future, Siveter argued.
“I’m pleased we’ve been able to demonstrate even higher symmetrical speeds on our FTTP network,” said G.Network’s CTO Paul Weir, “these high-bandwidth, symmetrical technologies are the smart alternative to expensive fibre leased-lines for London’s businesses, and prove that our existing network is future proof”.
Meanwhile Xantaro said will continue to work with the more competitive alternative fibre providers across the UK, it said, because 25GS-PON technology can improve current services and deliver new service opportunities to both consumers and business markets.