BT launches hyper-fast 10Gbps broadband trial
BT has launched a 10Gbps “hyper-fast” broadband trial network in a live working environment.
Cornwall-based engineering firm, Arcol, is the test site for deployment of the new technology, where the service runs in tandem with the company’s existing 330Mbps service on the same fibre.
The proof-of-concept trial uses new fibre technology called XGPON (Tens of Gibabits on a Passive Optical Network) developed by electronics company ZTE, in partnership with Openreach.
According to BT, the demonstration aims to show how even faster speeds could be provided over Cornwall’s new fibre infrastructure in the future, by upgrading the electronics at the exchange and in user premises.
Potential speeds are so fast that the physical limits of the networking and computer equipment prevent the line from being used at its maximum capacity.
“Although the direct link between the Truro exchange and Arcol runs at 10Gbps, the company isn’t connected to the wider internet at those speeds as there is nothing that can be done on the web with 10Gbps,” BT said in a press statement.
XGPON and GPON Co-Existence
Ranulf Scarbrough, programme director for the Cornwall SuperFast Broadband Programme, said: “What is exciting about this trial is that these hyper-fast speeds have been obtained over the exactly the same fibre that carries BT’s fibre broadband services today. All we are doing is changing the electronics at either end.”
“This trial shows we are thinking and ready for the future even though there are no current plans to deploy this technology. A lot of this project is about future proofing – making sure that it’s not just the fastest speeds today but that we can continue to be at the cutting edge for five, ten, twenty years,” he said.
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