VDSL2 will accelerate availability of superfast broadband

27 Sep 2011

Alcatel-Lucent’s new VDSL2 Vectoring technology will accelerate the availability of superfast broadband services, enabling speeds of 100Mbps and beyond over copper/fibre hybrid networks.

By boosting the capabilities of copper access networks, operators now have the ability to improve their broadband offerings and reach more subscribers much more quickly than ever before.

Many governments have recognized that universal broadband is critical for e-health, e-learning, and socio-economic development.

National broadband plans set specific bandwidth targets and timelines. In order to meet end-user demand, competitive pressure, and government targets, many operators have started looking at ways to accelerate broadband availability and reach.

“Alcatel-Lucent’s plan to make VDSL2 vectoring commercially available is very timely,” explained Rob Gallagher, Principal Analyst, Head of Broadband & TV Research, Informa.

“Service providers and governments have stated their intent to boost broadband speeds to consumers and businesses alike, but the challenges associated with comprehensive fiber-to-the-home deployments have been a major obstacle.

“VDSL2 Vectoring promises to bring speeds of 100Mbps and beyond to advanced copper/fibre hybrid networks and make superfast broadband speeds available to many more people, much faster than many in the industry had thought possible.”

Why copper networks still have a future

With more than 1.25 billion1 of the world’s households currently connected to copper lines, next-generation DSL technologies, such as VDSL2 and Vectoring provide effective ways to provide more bandwidth to more subscribers using existing copper resources.

“With our enhanced broadband portfolio, including VDSL2 Vectoring and recent innovations in next-generation fibre, operators can deliver new services and generate new revenue, quickly,” Dave Geary, president, Wireline Division of Alcatel-Lucent explained.

Our objective is to help operators – and nations – ‘get to fast, faster’. For operators this means shortening the time needed to recoup their investments, and making it easier for them to meet various national broadband goals.”

Alcatel-Lucent has supplied more than half of the VDSL2 lines in the field today, worldwide.

Over the past eight years, the company has pioneered innovative approaches to allow operators to get the most out of their copper plant: for example high-capacity VDSL platforms and VDSL2 Bonding deployments, both of which were market firsts.

In 2010, the company developed the first Vectoring prototype, allowing the company to engage in extensive lab and field trials with service providers worldwide including Belgacom, Telekom Austria, and Turk Telekom.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com