Nokia’s Symmetrical 25G PON Offers Faster, More Cost-Efficient Connectivity
For businesses and telecommunications operators alike, speed, efficiency, and adaptability remain top priorities when considering connectivity options, and fiber optic networks excel at meeting these requirements.
Often referred to as the “backbone” of connectivity infrastructure, fiber networks play a pivotal role in facilitating the delivery of services to diverse endpoints, including residences, commercial establishments, and cellular sites. For this reason, fiber networks must continue to evolve to become even faster, smarter, and more cost-efficient.
To meet the need for constant evolution and improvement, Nokia has introduced a symmetrical 25G Passive Optical Network (25G PON) solution that empowers users to enhance fiber broadband capacity and tap into novel opportunities.
Achieving True 10G Speeds With 25G PON
Gigabit Passive Optical Networks (GPON) have been successfully delivering 1 Gigabit service over the years, yet their bandwidth is anticipated to reach its limit by the end of this decade. This limitation has prompted operators to accelerate the deployment of XGS-PON, a technology capable of supporting multi-gigabit services that are expected to endure into the next decade.
10G services, once limited to point-to-point (P2P) fiber, can now be efficiently delivered through XGS-PON networks. This is a critical improvement since P2P requires more real estate, equipment, cabling, and energy, thus making it an overall more expensive option than XGS-PON.
However, to achieve true speeds of 10G and beyond, the seamless integration of 25G PON is crucial. Luckily, operators can tap into 10G opportunities with minimal investment since the existing hardware deployed for XGS-PON can effortlessly accommodate 25G PON.
25G PON vs. 50G PON
As the telecommunications industry adapts to and adopts 25G PON, 50G PON is already on the horizon, although it is unlikely to be ready for widespread deployment for several more years. Unlike the straightforward evolution of 25G PON, 50G PON presents a technological leap that demands time for maturation and cost-effectiveness. This advanced technology boasts double the speed of 25G PON, although it does so at a higher cost, increased power dissipation, and lower Optical Line Terminal (OLT) port density.
While 50G PON offers enticing opportunities, deployment will require significant investments in time and money as new hardware will be needed. The scale of deployment will likely have to be enormous for the investment to be cost-effective in the long run.
Meanwhile, 25G PON is currently a ready and optimized solution for the 10G era, offering several compelling reasons:
- Availability and Maturity: 25G PON is available, mature, and already deployed, ensuring timely capitalizing on current opportunities.
- Ease of Introduction: Existing OLT and line cards for GPON and XGS-PON seamlessly support 25G PON, requiring only a plug-and-play of the 25G transceiver.
- Power Efficiency: With a 10-fold capacity boost over GPON for a mere 2.5-fold power increase, 25G PON’s power efficiency is unmatched.
- Cost-Efficiency: The mature components of 25G PON and its compatibility with existing hardware translate to minimal additional investment.
Communications Companies Band Together To Accelerate 25G PON Development
In October 2020, ten major industry leaders and technology companies signed a multi-source agreement (MSA) to propel the development of 25G PON technology. The group’s formation underscores the urgency and significance of bridging the gap between existing 10G XGS-PON and the anticipated 50G PON standards.
To define and advance the next generation of 25G PON to address the growing demands of 5G and industrial applications, one of the group’s first orders of business was to draft a specification for 25G PON that included optical specifications aligned with the IEEE 802.3ca 25G EPON standard. This standardization addresses the industry’s immediate needs and lays the groundwork for the market development of 25G PON adoption.
Use Case: EPB Chattanooga Launches First Community-wide 25G PON Network
EPB Chattanooga has again positioned itself at the forefront of internet innovation by launching a groundbreaking 25G PON solution, making the city the first in the United States to offer 25-gigabit connectivity community-wide.
EPB Chattanooga’s journey began in 2010 when it launched a GPON network amidst skepticism surrounding the need for such high-powered connectivity. However, as streaming services, video calls, and smart devices became the norm, the demand skyrocketed.
With the 25G PON service being hailed as the new gold standard, the Chattanooga Convention Center proudly leads the way as the city’s first customer to adopt this cutting-edge technology.
You can learn more about EPB Chattanooga’s 25G PON solution deployment here.
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