Adtran Improves Symmetric G.fast Speeds

LONDON -- ADTRAN, Inc., (NASDAQ: ADTN), a leading provider of next-generation open networking solutions, today announced the availability of a new capability for G.fast deployments – Dynamic Time Allocation (DTA) – that allows subscribers to maximize the total bandwidth of a G.fast connection by transmitting data upstream or downstream intelligently to provide a fibre to the home (FTTH) user experience. ADTRAN has been demonstrating this innovation to operators globally for low crosstalk G.fast environments, providing operators an alternative to installing Cat 6, Cat5e or fibre optic cable to provide symmetric Gigabit data rates.

DTA disrupts the concept of Time Division Duplex (TDD) used by G.fast and other broadband access technologies which, until now, have been based on the “set-and-forget” configuration of uplink and downlink ratios (either symmetric or some degree of asymmetric) at the G.fast distribution point unit (DPU). DTA responds to user activity in the order of milliseconds, equipping the user with full stream broadband performance while giving the perception of a full capacity symmetric broadband experience. This approach achieves up to double the speed of an equivalent symmetric G.fast broadband service delivered without DTA. In instances where simultaneous upstream and downstream transmission is required, DTA responds as appropriate.

"ADTRAN G.fast customers have a unique opportunity to differentiate their services with an intelligent, new software-defined networking capability that meets dynamic customer demand with maximum performance," said Ronan Kelly, CTO for EMEA and APAC at ADTRAN. "With DTA, configuration symmetry is irrelevant. Operators can deploy responsive broadband for the first time, bursting to the full bandwidth potential of the subscriber connection in either direction. This fibre-like capability takes G.fast performance to a new level, matched only by the advanced optics standards such as NG-PON2 and XGS-PON."

DTA is suitable for low crosstalk environments such as single pairs or coaxial cable. Available as a software feature on its 500G series of G.fast solutions, the new DTA capability is set to be deployed by a Tier 1 U.S. operator during its G.fast rollout later this year.

"G.fast technology has accelerated, both in terms of the first phase of standards completion and in product development. Chipsets are on the market and an increasing number of Communications Service Providers (CSPs) are conducting trials," wrote Ian Keene, research vice president at Gartner. "Initial commercial deployments are expected in 2016 and shipments are forecast to ramp up during 2017. This fast pace of technology development has been driven by CSP demand; many are attracted by the possibility of high bandwidth services that can meet today's demands without the cost and time delays of pulling fiber all the way into the home."

Adtran Inc. (Nasdaq: ADTN)