Alcatel-Lucent Enhances VDSL2 Vectoring

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) has announced an enhancement to its VDSL2 Vectoring capabilities that will enable broadband network operators to deploy the DSL-enhancing technology without the need to upgrade existing VDSL2 modems (the CPE, or customer premises equipment) already installed in homes or offices.

Vectoring, the market term for the ITU's G.993.5 standard (also known as G.Vector), is a noise cancellation technology that reduces the interference between bundled copper lines and boosts the speed and reach of VDSL2 broadband connections. It is also known as DSM (Dynamic Spectrum Management) Level 3.

Currently, the implementation of vectoring technology in a VDSL2 deployment requires the CPE, as well as the DSL equipment in a street cabinet or building basement, to have integrated vectoring capabilities.

Now AlcaLu claims that its Zero Touch Vectoring capabilities, which are due to become commercially available during the first quarter of 2013, will enable broadband service providers to implement vectoring capabilities without needing to upgrade existing CPE.

Why this matters
Vectoring, which is offered by a number of the major broadband equipment vendors and supported by several chipset players and broadband management specialists, is becoming increasingly attractive to operators as they deploy VDSL2 to offer higher-speed broadband services over existing copper lines.

In fact, it's due to be one of the hot topics of debate at the upcoming Broadband World Forum show in Amsterdam, where the industry will focus on how copper, fiber and wireless networks can deliver broadband services that meet the increasingly data-hungry needs of consumer and business users. (See BBWF 2012: Vectoring's Potential.)

If AlcaLu can deliver effective vectoring capabilities using installed CPE, then that's only going to expand the market potential for its system, especially as more operators look for ways to extend the useful life of their copper plant before taking the plunge into fiber-to-the-home (FTTH).

But, as Belgacom SA (Euronext: BELG) has previously shown, having the technical capability is only part of the story --- the service provider business case is also required. (See Belgacom Preps VDSL2 Vectoring Deployment.) For more

• Keymile Shows Off Its GPON at BBWF
  
• T Austria Does Vectoring With AlcaLu
  
• Lantiq Ships VDSL2 Vectoring Chips
  
• Calix Ups Ante on VDSL Vectoring
  
• Huawei Unveils Its U2Net Vision
  
• AlcaLu Speeds Up Its VDSL2
  
• Ikanos, ASSIA Get Tighter on Vectoring
  
• Huawei Boosts DSL Vectoring
  
• BBWF 2010: Ikanos Boasts 100Mbit/s DSL
  
• ZTE Unveils VDSL2 Vectoring Prototype

— Ray Le Maistre, International Managing Editor, Light Reading