Sckipio offers G.fast reference designs, including G.fast on a stick

Communications IC startup Sckipio Technologies has unveiled a trio of reference designs for CPE that leverage the company's G.fast silicon (see "G.fast chipsets from Sckipio Technologies debut"). They include a design for an SFP optical transceiver that incorporates G.fast silicon for use in a variety of CPE, including residential gateways and business services network interface devices (NIDs).

The SFP design borrows from the PON world, where Furukawa, Teknovus, and others integrated optical network terminal (ONT) electronics into optical modules to create "PON on a stick." Just as in the case of the PON modules, Sckipio expects G.fast SFPs to enable vendors to support G.fast using platforms not originally developed for the purpose. Examples would include not only NIDs for G.fast-fed business services provision, but PON-based residential gateways and similar platforms. Such a scenario would enable service providers who either had mixed PON/G.fast infrastructures or who anticipated a near-term migration from G.fast to PON to stock a single CPE platform to support both architectures. Operators also could avoid vendor lock-in, Sckipio believes.

"The implementation of G.fast within an SFP enables our extensive portfolio of residential and business fiber gateways to delivery gigabit speeds over existing building wiring with a seamless transition to fiber installation in the future," said Chris Thompson, director customer devices portfolio, ADTRAN (see "G.fast field trials underway says ADTRAN"). "Sckipio's approach is a key enabler, allowing ADTRAN to accelerate the deployment of premium user-enabled broadband and cloud services to homes and enterprises, giving ADTRAN and our customers a substantial competitive advantage."

In addition to the CP1020 G.fast SFP Bridge Reference Design, Sckipio also has unveiled the CP1010R G.fast CPE Bridge Reference Design with Reverse Power Injector and the CP1010 G.fast CPE Bridge Reference Design. G.fast features a reverse power feature that enables the CPU to power the distribution point unit (DPU) in the field or basement that is feeding it broadband services. The CP1010R is the first reference design to leverage this capability, Sckipio asserts.

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