PONs are busting out all over at the NxtComm telecommunications trade show which opens today in Chicago, says EE Times (vendor profiles).
Verizon FiOS network is a factor in the explosion of interest in passive optical networks, says the magazine, but there’s also a growing realization that a full suite of TV options–including an RF overlay for standard- and high-definition broadcast channels, are necessary.
While active optics can provide plenty of bandwidth, a true active fiber interface to the home has been attempted only in Japan. PONs are the only other alternative for homes with multiple HDTV sets. A dedicated switched digital fiber interface could provide 100 Mbits/second or more to each home. A PON line card offers 2.5 Gbits/s downstream and 1.25 Gbits/s upstream, split among one to 64 subscribers at a density that fits the carrier’s profit plans.
NXTcomm 2007 runs June 18-21 in Chicago, and features an all-star line-up of keynote speakers including; AT&T Chairman Randall Stephenson; Cisco Chairman John Chambers; FCC Chairman Kevin Martin; GE Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Bob Wright; Motorola Chairman Ed Zander; and Verizon Chairman Ivan Seidenberg.
Other news at NXTcomm 2007 includes:
- Microsoft announced the availability of Microsoft Mediaroom, their IPTV software platform, featuring several new multimedia capabilities, including in-home personal music and photo sharing, multiple picture-in-picture capabilities and digital terrestrial television support.
- Vendors are Pushing 10 Gbps Bandwidth to feed a growing consumer habit for IPTV and other bandwidth-rich content.
- Towerstream will receive the “Communications Innovators Award” for Most Innovative Deployment of Broadband Wireless, at a ceremony on June 19 during the NXTComm show.
- AT&T confirmed that it has no major WIMAX plans. The company’s VP of government mobility solutions, suggests that AT&T may employ WiMAX for backhaul, but it is looking at Long Term Evolution (LTE) equipment as the next generation of mobile technology.
- The Chilean unit of Mexican fixed line giant Telmex has expanded its WiMax services to Chile. With the launch in Calama, located in the Atacama desert, Telmex has WiMax services in 20 cities throughout Chile.
- Nokia plans to release WiMAX handhelds in several designs in 2008, many of which will resemble the large-screen data-centric style of N800.
- Nokia plans to have WiMax in the Middle East within 2 years. “We cannot disclose the names of the organisations that we are piloting with. We are doing these on our own,” said Jan Cron, Head of Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) Middle East. Nokia Siemens has chosen Dubai as the location for its 500-employee regional hub, along with a local presence in 44 other countries. It has additional R&D centres in other Middle East countries.
- The destiny of GSM frequencies in 60 regions of Russia will be decided on July 17 and 19. So far the authorities have officially announced only four contests for 25 lots in 12 regions of Russia.
- Sprint will begin soft rollouts of Mobile WiMAX in December in Washington, D.C. using Samsung equipment and Chicago using Motorola gear. “It will be a world where any device provides an access route to the Internet, whereas today that doesn’t exist,” said Barry West, president of 4G mobile broadband and CTO at Sprint.
- San Isabel Telecom will utilize Mobile WiMAX in Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado. Service is expected to begin in January, 2008 at Vail and Beaver Creek, followed by a January, 2009 deployment in Breckenridge and Keystone.
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