Nokia in collaboration with Etisalat UAE, branded as ‘etisalat by e&’ – have demonstrated their fastest passive optical network (PON) speeds in the Middle East and Africa region to date. On a single wavelength, Nokia Bell Lab’s PON proof of concept (PoC) demonstration attained rates of up to 100 gigabits per second (Gbit/s).
Nokia Bell Labs employed “cutting-edge” digital signal processing (DSP) methods to reach 100 Gbit/s on a single wavelength. The transition to 50G and 100G would be simple once modern DSP is used, and 100G may be widely accessible by the 2030s.
The Nokia Bell Labs 100G PON prototype would be one of the world’s first applications of flexible rate transmission in a PON network. Flexible rate transmission would increase the efficiency of data transmission by combining fiber modems (ONUs) that display comparable physical network characteristics (such as loss or dispersion).
Lower latency on a PON and a reduction in power consumption from using flexible rate transmission are two crucial features for fiber networks that are playing an increasingly important part in the widespread provision of fixed and mobile broadband services.
Supporting 5G Rollouts
The PoC is Nokia’s most recent industry-first in fiber access, following XGS-PON, TWDM-PON, and 25G PON. 100G PON could be commercially available in the 2030s.
“Fiber networks are fast evolving into becoming the backbone of the entire telecommunications sector as they play an important role in delivering any service to any end point, including residences, businesses, and cell sites,” said Marwan Bin Shakar, Senior Vice President/Access Network Development, etisalat by e&. “As their use case evolves, they must become quicker, smarter, and more cost-effective. We are thrilled to have showcased a working prototype for 100G PON with Nokia. Our partnership with Nokia is a demonstration of our commitment to maximize value for our customers and bring positive change to their lives in the age of digitalization. Through our partnership, we are looking forward to continuing our efforts in bringing in the best-in-class solutions to our customers and enabling the adoption of innovative technological solutions within the UAE and the region.”
“etisalat by e& is a pioneering operator in the region and we are proud to have demonstrated our industry-first prototype technology with the company,” said Samer Makke, Head of the Customer Team for etisalat by e&, UAE, at Nokia. “Fiber broadband continues to evolve and will play a critical role in enabling services for enterprise customers, premium consumers, and supporting 5G rollouts. 10G XGS-PON is now mainstream; the first 25G city is a reality; and 50G and 100G are being developed. This just shows the unlimited potential of fiber broadband.”
