United Group to deploy XGS-PON across Southeast Europe via Nokia
Nokia says it has won a contract to supply XGS-PON optical line terminals (OLTs) and associated optical network terminals (ONTs) and beacons to United Group (UG). The operator will deploy the gear throughout its operating area of Southeast Europe to deliver improved broadband services to its residential and business customers backed with mesh WiFi capabilities.
UG will deploy Nokia’s Lightspan FX series platforms in both greenfield and brownfield upgrade scenarios. The enhanced network capabilities should open new business opportunities, such as 5G network support, as well as improve its current service mix and set the stage for an evolution to SDN-enabled operations, UG believes.
The service provider, headquartered in the Netherlands, was founded in 2000 as a small cable operator and has grown significantly via acquisition. To support telecommunications brands such as Telemach, Vivacom, SBB, and Nova – UG expects to spend more than EUR 500 million over the next five years to extend its fiber network and deploy the XGS-PON capabilities. “As the region’s leading telecom serving a market of 40 million people, United Group is committed to investing in the most advanced technology in order to deliver our users the most innovative products and services and the best customer experience,” commented United Group Vice President Technology Željko Batistić. “We’re also helping to secure Southeast Europe’s digital future by guaranteeing our next-generation network – already the region’s largest – is ready to support the future needs of our users both at home and their places of business.”
“We are excited to be the preferred fiber access network equipment provider to United Group and to work with them on this new phase of growth,” added Sandy Motley, president of the Nokia Fixed Networks Division. “With our FTTH and Wi-Fi solution, we are able to provide a high-speed, reliable network infrastructure and an unmatched in-home Wi-Fi experience that will meet United Groups subscribers needs today and in the future.”
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About the Author
Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.