MATTHEW PEACH CONNECT 2017
CONNECT 2017 IN BERLIN throws light on gigabit broadband
decided to take fibre to the kerb instead of right to the home or premises to make deployment cheaper but also better. “ Adtran is working with nbn to advance high-speed broadband access to the citizens of Australia. The next-generation broadband technology, Gfast, will be launched on the nbn broadband access network in 2018, allowing the operator to deliver ultra-fast speeds over copper lines. Of this development, JB Rousselot, chief strategy officer at nbn, has commented, “Using Gfast means we will be able to deliver ultra-fast internet capability to our Fibre-to-the-Kerb and Fibre-to-the- Building customers, giving them access to transformative, ultra-fast services more rapidly and cost-effectively than over a Fibre-to-the-Premises connection.” A range of company representatives spoke about different aspects of the company’s broad portfolio of solutions. Chris Thompson, Director, Portfolio Management, Adtran explained The Mosaic Effect, including the company’s transition to becoming a more software- focused entity. Then Werner Heinrich, Director, Portfolio Management, at Adtran, gave an interesting presentation on Ultra Broadband Evolution, and another angle on the alternative offered by Gfast. He said, “Full FTTH deployment remains a major challenge. It is typically Up to six times more expensive than copper-based alternatives according to recent detailed studies. There is also a need for high bandwidth copper solution. Copper evolution allows for fast and cost- effective Ultra Broadband deployment where FTTH roll-out can be too slow and expensive. BACKHAUL AND ACCESS On the same date, Adtran announced next-gen mmWave backhaul and access solutions. This is an agreement with CCS to deliver self-organising mmWave technology for backhaul and access capabilities to wired and wireless operators as they embrace 5G densification architectures and higher access speeds. Adtran commented that the global agreement with CCS, a UK-based pioneer in self-organising 5G mmWave backhaul and Gigabit access, forms the latest development in Adtran’s Mosaic Access based NG-PON2 solution for 5G backhaul, featuring non-service impacting wavelength agility and ultra-low latency to safeguard the extraordinary SLA performance demands of 5G, IoT and other mission-critical services. “The resiliency, scale and low-latency capabilities of the Adtran SD-Access based mmWave solution make it the clear choice for operators seeking an affordable and sustainable 5G rollout, specifically in those instances where backhaul fibre is initially unavailable or impractical,” said Hossam Salib, VP, cable & wireless strategy at Adtran. Open Network Alliance initiative. It complements Adtran’s existing SD-
Adtran-hosted event ahead of BBWF hears presentations about company and wider industry on how to achieve the gigabit society. By Matthew Peach
A head of the opening of Broadband World Forum 2017 in Berlin in October, Adtran, a Connect conference to give an update on its latest developments and to give the views on the state of the communications sector of a range of company and wider industry experts. Opening the conference at Vice President Global Marketing, who welcomed the attendees, commenting that next-generation devices and systems are pushing up current bandwidth limits too meet the growing demands posed by the usual suspects of high definition, 4K TV signals, growing internet demands and supporting the proliferation of mobile applications and the impending new swath of 5G services. GIGABIT CHASE Ronan Kelly, Adtran’s CTO, EMEA & APAC, gave a presentation entitled The Gigabit Chase; an overview of the high-speed markets that Adtran is addressing. He quoted EC Commissioner for Budget Responsibility Günther Oettinger, who was until recently the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society. Kelly told the audience, “Oettinger said that we need a gigabit infrastructure for a gigabit economy and society, which is the opportunity and challenge for systems developers and network operators alike.” Broadband World Forum, which opened on the other side of Berlin the following day, showcased the technologies, including those of Adtran’s, that are enabling the Gigabit Society. Kelly further described the consumer, media and wireless forces that are pushing networks towards the gigabit level. developer of networking and communications equipment, hosted the Deutsche Telekom’s imposing Representative Office in Berlin, were Gary Bolton, the company’s
INDEPENDNT VIEWS Although the conference mainly featured Adtran industry figures, there were several notable indpendents or partner company representatives giving their views of what is happening to broadband and the supporting technologies. Next up was Dr. Iris Henseler-Unger, Managing Director of WIK, a German research and advisory institute for communications services, established in 1982 as the thinktank of the country’s Ministry of Post & Telecommunications. She said that gigabit networks were the precursor of competitiveness; furthermore that the ongoing gigabit rollout “needs creative tension between market competition and amore relaxed regulatory framework .” Expressing the hope that a European gigabit society could be realised by 2025, she cautioned that, “gigabit networks are the precondition for economic competitiveness,” adding: “Currently the extent and the speed of the rollout remains below public expectations and needs, especially in rural areas.” OPERATOR EXPERIENCES From Deutsche Telekom, Robert Soukup, Senior Program Manager, told the crowd about the need for building open, programmable, scalable SD-Access networks to enable widespread availability of Gigabit broadband. He added that, “DT is partnering with Adtran to drive so-called softwarisation of the access network, an approach that is saving money, while simplifying platforms.” Similarly, Tony Brown, Executive Manager, Corporate Media at Australian broadband provider NBN – another Adtran systems adopter – explained how the company has mixed FTTC, FTTP and FTTN to efficiently and cost effectively to improve connections and connectivity across Australia. He said, “Historically it had taken six months to connect 100 premises in one location. But nbn
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| ISSUE 11 | Q4 2017
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