Northpower Fibre has become the first telco in the world to demonstrate Next-Generation Passive Optical Network 2 (NG-PON2) technology in a live network, according to its technology supplier Calix.
Calix said that Northpower had used the same Calix E7-2 modular access system that it is deploying throughout its network to deliver 10Gbps speeds over multiple wavelengths to Calix 812NG GigaHubs customer premises equipment located in a business and a home in Whangarei.
Calix said that wider deployment of NG-PON2 would increase operational efficiencies for Northpower. “Armed with Calix AXOS, the world’s only true software defined access (SDA) architecture, the company can begin to dramatically drive down its OPEX and CAPEX profile by further converging disparate business, residential, and backhaul services onto one simple-to-operate network,” Calix said.
NG-PON2 was standardised by the ITU in 2015 as ITU-T G.989. It uses multiple wavelengths of light each carrying data at 10Gbps, in contrast to the single wavelength of 2.5Gbps of the GPON standard. It enables a single fibre to serve four customers of four different retail service providers with a 10Gbps symmetrical service.
According to Calix, NG-PON2 enables the isolation of services between the providers, allowing one to make service updates and changes, with no impact on the other providers. It adds: “In addition, with the AXOS ‘always on’ capability, Northpower Fibre can make its own live upgrades without service disruption or impact to the multiple service providers utilizing their fibre infrastructure.
Northpower Fibre CEO, Darren Mason said the company would deploy the technology to meet its commitment to connect 12 new towns to fibre within the next four year under the UFB Phase 2 program.
“With Calix as our partner and the AXOS E7-2 supporting the deployment, we have been amazed by how quickly we had jaw-dropping speeds and services up and running,” Mason said.
“We’ve shown the world that NG-PON2 is real, and we are excited for all of the new efficiencies and opportunities NG-PON2 will bring to our future business.”