Alcatel-Lucent launches ONT with gigabit Wi-Fi, improved service activation

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) will expand its fiber to the home (FTTH) portfolio with a new optical network terminal (ONT) that supports gigabit Wi-Fi, as well as an online service activation feature called ONT Easy Start.

The new Gigabit Wi-Fi 7368 ISAM ONT G-240W-B ONT uses dual-band Wi-Fi with high signal strength to support both gigabit connections in the home as well as better coverage. The single-box wireless gateway leverages 802.11ac/n on 5 GHz and 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz and up to 500 mW of transmit power. It also supports USB 2.0 and 3.0.

Alcatel-Lucent is the second company to offer a ONT gateway that supports gigabit Wi-Fi, following a similar announcement last year from Calix (see "Calix GigaCenters enable carrier-class home Wi-Fi").

Meanwhile, the ONT Easy Start online activation feature leverages Alcatel-Lucent's Motive customer experience management platform to enable FTTH customers to activate new services via a web portal. It also can assist technicians when they are dispatch to a customer's location. The automated nature of ONT Easy Start replacing manual registration processes while reducing the risk of human error, the company says.

Alcatel-Lucent says the Gigabit Wi-Fi 7368 ISAM ONT G-240W-B ONT is now in customer trials. The ONT and the ONT Easy Start feature should be commercially available during the third quarter of this year.

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