CenturyLink, a leading broadband services provider in the United States, announced that it has installed G.fast technology in Platteville, resulting in the largest G.fast deployment in North America. CenturyLink is utilizing the Calix AXOS G.fast solution for the G.fast deployment in Platteville, with all systems and services managed via the cloud through Calix's Compass Consumer Connect Plus software.
Using existing copper and internal coaxial cable infrastructure, CenturyLink installed G.fast technology in 44 multi-dwelling units (MDUs) to provide internet speeds of up to 500 Mbps and higher to nearly 800 apartments in Platteville.
In 2015, CenturyLink deployed fiber-to-the-premises technology to the majority of residential and business customers in Platteville to upgrade the CenturyLink Televideo TV service to CenturyLink Prism TV service. That fiber network enhancement also enabled most residential and business customers in Platteville access to broadband speeds up to 1 gigabit per second.
CenturyLink said it is evaluating other locations, beyond MDUs, where G.fast technology can be used to give customers access to faster speeds, such as fiber-fed multi-tenant units (MTUs) and neighborhoods where fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) allows for G.fast to push higher speeds over the short amount of copper into the home. CenturyLink is utilizing other new technologies on its existing network infrastructure to accommodate the growing broadband needs of its customers, including the delivery of internet speeds up to 100 Mbps to nearly 1 million homes and businesses using VDSL2 vectoring.
Erik M. Keith, principal analyst of broadband networks and multiplay services at Current Analysis
CenturyLink's commercial G.fast deployment in Platteville, Wisconsin is the largest single G.fast implementation in the U.S. to date, highlighting the company's commitment to delivering ultra-broadband services – including Gigabit access – to its customer base. With the ongoing evolution towards unicast, OTT streaming video services, including 4KTV, demand for ultra-broadband connectivity continues to escalate.
Aamir Hussain, CenturyLink EVP & CTO
We take a fiber-first approach when deploying faster broadband speeds but enabling G.fast over copper infrastructure helps us reduce costs, speed time to market and effectively connect our customers to the power of the digital world in areas where fiber deployment is less feasible.
