Nokia used this week’s Fiber Connect 2022 event in Nashville, TN, to demonstrate single-wavelength 100G PON technology. The technology features the ability to accommodate multiple transmission rates using different modulation formats.
The company showed 100G downstream over 15- and 20-km links at the show, where Nokia displayed the capabilities at its booth and in a proof-of-concept area where it won an award for innovation. According to Stefaan Vanhastel, CTO at Nokia Fixed Networks, the DSP behind the capabilities leverages PAM4 for the 100G and NRZ for 25G and 10G PON. It is designed to switch among the formats as service providers require.
Vanhastel estimated that 100G PON capabilities will be necessary by the end of this decade. CableLabs has launched at 100G PON development program based on coherent technology; Vanhastel says Nokia has been in contact with CableLabs regarding 100G PON and offered that PAM4 likely would provide a cheaper way to support 100G than coherent. Nokia also plans to provide information about the technology to the ITU-T in the context of next-generation PON standards efforts, particularly about the ability to support modulation format flexibility.
Meanwhile, the company has started to engage with operators regarding the technology. Nokia revealed this past February that it had trialed a prototype version of the 100G PON technology with Vodafone (see “Nokia, Vodafone lab test 100G PON”).
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