Infonetics Research: Operators look to next-generation FTTH technologies to solve bandwidth crunch

In fact, service providers surveyed by Infonetics Research revealed their top two drivers for deploying next-generation FTTH technologies: delivery of over-the-top or broadband video, and increasing bandwidth to each subscriber to handle multiple concurrent video on demand (VOD) streams in the home. When asked which FTTH optical network termination (ONT) features and capabilities they require, 73 percent of service providers surveyed said “VoIP," according to the telecom industry market research firm, Infonetics Research.

Infonetics Research has released two broadband access reports: “Next Gen FTTH Deployment Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey” and “FTTH Equipment Vendor Ratings-Tier 1 and Tier 3 Perspectives: Global Service Provider Survey.”

"A lot of FTTH equipment vendors will be surprised to learn that many operators are already evaluating next generation technologies to solve their future bandwidth requirements. When we recently surveyed global service providers about their FTTH deployment strategies, almost half said they are evaluating 10G GPON, and a small but significant number are already evaluating WDM PON, asymmetric 10G EPON, and symmetric 10G EPON. With this in mind, FTTH equipment vendors need to step up efforts to educate their customers about the advantages of next gen technologies," notes Jeff Heynen, directing analyst for broadband and video at Infonetics Research.

Heynen adds: "In a related survey in which we asked service providers to rate equipment vendors, Alcatel-Lucent, Calix, Huawei, and Occam were named the top FTTH ONT suppliers."

Infonetics Research interviewed purchase decision-makers at incumbent telecom service providers in North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific that use PON or Ethernet FTTH for broadband access. A majority of the respondents have been deploying GPON and Ethernet FTTH aggressively over the last three to four years. In aggregate, the service providers surveyed represent 28 percent of worldwide public service provider capital expenditures (capex), and 19 percent of revenue, and include some of the world's largest fixed-line providers.