CurrentCast - Fast Times in the Fixed Access Space

In late September 2011, two major fixed access shows took place simultaneously – the Broadband World Forum (BBWF) in Paris, France and the FTTH Council North America in Orlando, Florida, U.S. Hot topics from both shows included progress with VDSL2 vectoring technology at BBWF, and – no surprise – fiber access system upgrades at the FTTH Council. Multiple vendors have introduced new products and strategies aimed at capitalizing on VDSL2 vectoring advances as well as FTTH portfolio enhancements, as evidenced in the following reports:

• 2011 Broadband World Forum: Last Tango in Paris, Sep 30, 2011 | Client Access
• ADTRAN Doubles GPON Port Capacity and Re-announces Active Ethernet Card, Sep 30, 2011 | Client Access
• Alcatel-Lucent Aims for Vectoring Victory with New ISAM Cards, Sep 23, 2011 | Client Access

It played out as a tale of two trade shows, with the BBWF generating the major headlines in areas such as VDSL2 vectoring and related copper enhancement technologies, while the FTTH Council witnessed relatively modest headlines such as new double density GPON cards and ONT solutions. Bearing in mind the contrast of each event’s target audience, what were the major takeaways from both shows? What are the best trial scenarios and business cases for VDSL2 vectoring? Moreover, the week after BBWF, the European Union’s Digital Agenda Commissioner decreed an intention to lower wholesale copper prices in an effort to spur fiber deployments. How will European operators respond to this decision?

What follows is a conversation between Ron Westfall (Research Director, Service Provider Infrastructure) and Erik Keith (Principal Analyst, Fixed Access Infrastructure), exploring these issues.

| Client access - Full report in Fixed Access Infrastructure | More information