ADTRAN to Power UK FTTH Build

By Paula Bernier
Executive Editor, TMC

Call Flow has tapped ADTRAN (News - Alert) Inc. to provide equipment for its symmetric multi-gigabit fiber to the home effort. The U.K. alternative service provider plans to leverage this technology to expand its existing 100 megabit per second fiber-to-the-cabinet deployment that’s already operational in Southern England.

The technology at play in this deployment is XGS-PON. In a March 2016 blog, Kurt Raaflaud, head of strategic solutions marketing at ADTRAN, explained that XGS-PON is a 10Gbps broadband standard that bridges the gap between today’s FTTH technologies and NG-PON2. “XGS-PON targets network operators who have found other PON upgrade paths too costly and/or insufficient to meet the needs of business customers, who typically demand symmetrical service.”

The new FTTH solution will work with the existing FTTC network technology, according to ADTRAN. Call Flow will deploy it as part of its network expansion over the next five to 10 years. That will enable Call Flow to differentiate itself in the marketplace, according to the companies, and better address such applications as 4K media streaming, augmented reality and virtual reality, and the cloudification of software applications.

Call Flow has “superfast” and “ultrafast” networks in place across Berkshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent. In some cases the service provider leverages ducts, phone lines, and poles from BT (News - Alert) Openreach to deliver its services. It also leverages wireless technology in some cases.

According to a press release issued by ADTRAN, Call Flow has several years of experience of building networks for various public bodies and Broadband Delivery UK, which is part of the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, which delivers superfast broadband. And the network operator delivers broadband and other services to more than 13,000 businesses and residences.