Vodafone is partnering with Alcatel-Lucent to conduct the first European field trial of TWDM-PON ultra-broadband access technology as the operator prepares its network to address growing network data traffic and mobile backhaul demands on its existing fiber network. The field trial builds on the successful completion of Vodafone’s lab trial in Vigo, Spain, where Alcatel-Lucent’s TWDM-PON technology achieved bit rates of up to 20Gbps over two wavelengths.
According to Alcatel-Lucent, with its TWDM-PON (Time and Wavelength Division Multiplexed Passive Optical Networks) technology, Vodafone will be able to achieve high-speed network performance of up to 40 gigabits per second - 10Gbps per wavelength - over its existing fiber infrastructure and seamlessly deliver commercial services to end-customers. With over 446 million mobile customers worldwide, TWDM-PON will also play an important role in Vodafone’s strategy to address the increasing bandwidth needed to support its customers as they migrate to 4G mobile services, said Alcatel-Lucent.
Gavin Young, Head of Fixed Access, Vodafone Group
We have been engaged with Alcatel-Lucent for several years on TWDM-PON development, testing and trial activities, and all of which have shown great results. We look forward to conducting field trials of TWDM-PON technology in Europe.
Federico Guillén, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Fixed Access Business Line
Vodafone wants to grow capacity to meet customer demand. They also want to benefit from operational efficiencies that keep them competitive in a challenging market. We are committed to providing them with innovative technologies that will allow them to reduce costs and deliver new services more easily. That is why TWDM-PON is such an important development for them.
