Verizon establishes NG-PON2 interoperability using OpenOMCI specification

Verizon says it has proved NG-PON2 interoperability based on its OpenOMCI specification at its Waltham, MA, Technology Center this past May. Several international communications operators, including Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom, and Vodafone, observed the trial virtually, Verizon said.

This is at least the second NG-PON2 interoperability trial Verizon has conducted, following a demonstration Verizon concluded in December 2016 (see "Verizon NG-PON2 interop trial brings selection closer"). The most recent trial focused on ONT management and provisioning based on Verizon's OpenOMCI specification. The OpenOMCI specification defines the OLT-to-ONT interface and is aligned with the ITU-T Recommendation G.989.3. Verizon says the OpenOMCI specification optimizes the number of managed entities and methods that can be used to implement a particular service function, while disallowing the vendor-proprietary objects and features that Verizon asserts have hampered interoperability efforts previously. The OpenOMCI also includes specific managed entities that Verizon claims will improve the stability of PON systems.

The trial also tested transmission convergence layer features that Verizon says enable support of wireless transport services alongside residential and business traffic.

In addition to the four vendors announced as being involved in the December trial – NG-PON2 systems RFP finalists ADTRAN and Calix/Ericsson, alongside chipmakers Broadcom and Cortina Access – Intel also supplied technology for the recent interoperability demonstration. Verizon described the companies in a press release describing the interoperability trial as technology suppliers that "intend to make their hardware and software compliant and are actively contributing to the OpenOMCI specification."

"We continuously sought the various contributors' feedback and constructive input," said Dr. Denis Khotimsky, Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff and Verizon's lead engineer for the trial. "NG-PON2 technology creates specific challenges for the management layer to handle, such as multi-wavelength operations, pluggable optics and multiple interface enhancements. The Verizon OpenOMCI specification meets those challenges."

Verizon added that it has shared its OpenOMCI specification for possible inclusion within the appropriate industry standards. Interested parties may download a review copy of the Verizon OpenOMCI specification online.

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