Five products, collectively from ADTRAN, Intel, NetComm, and Nokia, were the first to successfully complete the 212-MHz Gfast certification program run the Broadband Forum carries out in the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory. (UNH-IOL’s). The 212-MHz capabilities are part of “second generation” Gfast, the latest iteration of the ITU-T specs that supports gigabit broadband services delivery (see, for example, "ADTRAN launches second-generation Gfast DPUs").
“Delivering higher performance and gigabit speeds over a wider range of deployment scenarios, 212-MHz Gfast holds huge potential for operators,” said Geoff Burke, chief marketing officer at Broadband Forum. “Demonstrating interoperability through Broadband Forum’s certification program gives operators confidence that the technology can be delivered at scale, reducing test time and accelerating mass deployment.”
The Gfast certification program tests bit rates up to 1.45 Gbps over distances of up to 400 m. However, Broadband Forum is developing additional specifications that are expected to lead to tests at higher bit rates. Broadband Forum lists certified devices on its website.
Deployments of 212-MHz Gfast have begun (see "SK Broadband deploys 212-MHz Gfast for gigabit broadband"). “Operators are well-versed in the benefits of Gfast which enables ultra-fast speeds to the underserved multi-dwelling unit (MDU) market and is a powerful complement to fiber network buildouts,” said Lincoln Lavoie, senior engineer at UNH-IOL. “The advent of 212-MHz Gfast takes these services over copper to another level, aligning the copper service offerings with those of full fiber and further simplifying the operations of broadband networks. This new certification program will help operators deploy this new groundbreaking technology quickly and more cost-effectively.”
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