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Alcatel-Lucent accelerates the availability of superfast broadband

Networks & Network Services
Alcatel-Lucent has enhanced its broadband portfolio to further accelerate the availability of superfast broadband services. With the first commercial availability of VDSL2 Vectoring technology, Alcatel-Lucent is helping communications service providers dramatically boost the data speeds and capacity of existing copper access networks to bring consumers and businesses broadband speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and beyond.

By boosting the capabilities of copper access networks, Alcatel-Lucent makes it possible for service providers to make the best use of existing copper infrastructure. As a result, 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.

Rob Gallagher, Principal Analyst, Head of Broadband & TV Research, Informa, said: “Alcatel-Lucent's plan to make VDSL2 vectoring commercially available is very timely. 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/fiber hybrid networks and make superfast broadband speeds available to many more people, much faster than many in the industry had thought possible.”

In making the gradual transition to fiber, many operators can benefit from reliable, cost-effective options that allow high bandwidth to be delivered on a faster schedule. 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.

Dave Geary, President, Wireline Division of Alcatel-Lucent, said: “With our enhanced broadband portfolio, including VDSL2 Vectoring and recent innovations in next-generation fiber, operators can deliver new services and generate new revenue, quickly. 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 unparalleled expertise in VDSL2 – the company has supplied more than half of the VDSL2 lines in the field today, worldwide. Over the past 8 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. With VDSL2 Vectoring, Alcatel-Lucent continues this tradition of being first-to-market. 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. This early experience with each evolution of the technology gives Alcatel-Lucent a significant edge over the competition.