Energie Wasser Bern taps Keymile for Swiss FTTH deployment

Utility Energie Wasser Bern will use the MileGate multiservice access platform from KEYMILE in a fiber to the home (FTTH) deployment in Bern, Switzerland.

The energy utility, in partnership with incumbent national carrier Swisscom, is using a point-to-point architecture based on FTTH transmission technology from Ericsson. The partners expect to connect 90% of all buildings in the city by 2017 (see “Swisscom, Energie Wasser Bern agree on Berne FTTH/FTTB network”). Swisscom will contribute 60% and Energie Wasser Bern 40% of the necessary funding. The utility is charged with infrastructure deployment to 70% of the town, with Swisscom focusing on apartments and laying the optical fibers between the buildings and the exchange.

The fiber-optic network will connect approximately 82,000 households in all, with each household receiving four optical fibers (to promote open access).

The MileGate IP-based access platform will accommodate up to 480 optical fiber lines in an 8-HU subrack. It can be deployed in exchanges, collocation, rooms and outdoor cabinets.

“We’re delighted that KEYMILE is such a reliable business partner,” said Peter Zbinden, head of Business Development Telecom at Energie Wasser Bern. “Optical fiber expansion in the town started back in 2009. Now people living in 39,000 residential and business units can order ultra-fast broadband access. KEYMILE is supplying the access- and Ericsson the core-solution. In our complex communications structure, the two partners complement one another perfectly.”

For more information on FTTx equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.