Nokia expands G.fast deployment options, facilitates massive roll-outs for operators

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has expanded its portfolio of G.fast micro-nodes to help operators accelerate ultra-broadband deployments and deliver faster data speeds to end-customers using existing copper networks. The G.fast micro-nodes provide a simple, flexible plug-and-play solution that can scale in line with demand, allow for both distribution point and cabinet deployment models and cut roll-out times in half.

Service providers are increasingly turning to technologies like G.fast, which uses existing copper networks to deliver fiber-like speeds to customer over short distances, to meet growing demand for gigabit services.  However, to achieve these speeds, G.fast technology typically requires the deployment of micro-nodes to be installed close to end-users. This can be challenging for operators to deploy, configure and manage at scale.

To help operators scale and accelerate G.fast deployments, Nokia is strengthening its portfolio of micro-node solutions to help:

• Deploy more G.fast – Nokia’s industry-leading transmission and vectoring technology allows operators to deliver G.fast over longer distances and to more users from a single node. As a result, G.fast can now be used from cabinet, pole, manhole or in-building locations, providing a range of cost-effective deployment models.
• Deploy G.fast quicker – Zero-touch provisioning allows operators to quickly power up and auto-configure each node and avoid local software loading and local provisioning.  This provides a “connect-and-go” option which reduces time of deployment by 50 percent.
• Deploy G.fast better – Accessibility and serviceability of G.fast micro-nodes is improved with SDN/NFV and NETCONF/YANG capabilities. Nodes are pre-provisioned from the cloud  and seamlessly deployed in the network. This helps operators to efficiently scale and manage the network from any location.

Federico Guillen, president of Nokia’s Fixed Networks business group, said:  “Nokia’s G.fast micro-nodes enable operators to further extend the benefits of G.fast without the added complexity or time once required to do this. Flexible deployment options for both larger and smaller systems are key to optimizing the business case for massive G.fast roll-outs.  We also use SDN/NFV to simplify and automate the management process and deliver tangible benefits to operators – allowing them to accelerate G.fast deployments and extend ultra-broadband services to more people, quickly”

Teresa Mastrangelo, senior analyst at Broadbandtrends, said: “The ability to support a wide range of use cases in a cost-effective manner is key to wide-scale deployment of G.fast. These additions to the Nokia G.fast portfolio provide operators with the necessary tools to meet these objectives in a competitive manner.”

Nokia’s expanding G.fast solution encompasses a number of products that help eliminate the complexity associated with massive scale deployments. Supporting a number of deployment scenarios, the portfolio includes unique micro-nodes that provide a wide range of capacity options for FTTdp and FTTN deployments. New in the  expanded Nokia micro-node solution:

• Nokia 7368 ISAM SX-8F – Eight port, sealed G.fast micro-node, designed for easy operations to enter buildings in FTTB/MDU deployments
• Nokia 7368 ISAM MX-6 – New G.fast line card for Nokia’s high density modular micro-node, allowing operators like BT Openreach to deploy G.fast from cabinet locations
• Nokia Access Controller – Cloud-based controller automates and simplifies deployment, maintenance and evolution of the access network in a traditional, SDN, or hybrid management environment

With several customers deploying Nokia’s G.fast solution including BT Openreach, Chunghwa Telecom, A1 Telekom Austria and Energia Communications, along with new technology innovations such as XG-FAST, Nokia remains committed to providing operators with a wide range of copper technologies essential to meet growing end-customer demand for gigabit services.

Did you know?

• G.fast requires vectoring to perform at its best and Nokia is the global leader in vectoring technology. Combined with an extension of loop lengths, this is key to enable cabinet-based deployments.
• Nokia is working with the Broadband Forum to address the evolution to SDN-enabled access networks and bring standardization based on NETCONF and YANG.