Nokia announced that the company in collaboration with Etisalat UAE, branded as Etisalat by e& — demonstrated the fastest passive optical network (PON) speed in the Middle East and Africa region. Nokia Bell Lab’s PON proof of concept (PoC) demonstration achieved speeds up to 100 gigabits per second (Gb/s) on a single wavelength — four times faster than the most advanced networks available today.
In their long-standing collaboration, the two technological giants have created numerous records for the industry, including the first single-carrier terabit-per-second field testing and the highest optical transmission capacity across Etisalat by efiber &’s network in the UAE.
To get 100 Gb/s on a single wavelength, the company used pioneering digital signal processing (DSP) techniques. Steps to get 50G and 100G are pretty easy once advanced DSP is adopted and by 2030s 100g can be available commercially.
The first implementation of flexible rate transmission in a PON network is the Nokia Bell Labs 100G PON prototype. Flexible rate transmission increases the efficiency of data transmission by grouping fibre modems (ONUs) that display comparable physical network characteristics (such as loss or dispersion). Lower latency on a PON and a reduction in power consumption from using flexible rate transmission are two crucial features for fibre networks that are playing an increasingly important part in the widespread provision of fixed and mobile broadband services.
The PoC is Nokia’s most recent industry-first in fiber access, following XGS-PON, TWDM-PON, and 25G PON. 100G PON could be commercially available in the 2030s.
Marwan Bin Shakar, Senior Vice President/Access Network Development, Etisalat by e& said “Fiber networks are fast evolving into becoming the backbone of the entire telecommunications sector as they play an important role in delivering any service to any endpoint, including residences, businesses, and cell sites. As their use case evolves, they must become quicker, smarter, and more cost-effective. We are thrilled to have showcased a working prototype for 100G PON with Nokia. Our partnership with Nokia is a demonstration of our commitment to maximise value for our customers and bring positive change to their lives in the age of digitalisation. Through our partnership, we are looking forward to continuing our efforts in bringing in the best-in-class solutions to our customers and enabling the adoption of innovative technological solutions within the UAE and the region.”
Samer Makke, Head of the Customer Team for Etisalat by e&, UAE, at Nokia, said “Etisalat by e& is a pioneering operator in the region and we are proud to have demonstrated our industry-first prototype technology with the company. Fiber broadband continues to evolve and will play a critical role in enabling services for enterprise customers, premium consumers, and supporting 5G rollouts. 10G XGS-PON is now mainstream; the first 25G city is a reality, and 50G and 100G are being developed. This just shows the unlimited potential of fiber broadband.”
