In a landmark development for the UK’s broadband landscape, Netomnia and Adtran have successfully launched the first commercial 50G PON service in the country. By upgrading an existing residential customer, they offer insights into the power of next-generation PON technology in meeting escalating demands for hyper-fast connectivity.
The deployment is driven by Adtran’s SDX 6400 Series, capable of seamlessly integrating with existing PON technologies without disruption. This series enables high-capacity services in dense environments, promoting both advanced service delivery and energy efficiency. As Jeremy Chelot, Group CEO of Netomnia, YouFibre, and brsk, highlighted, “This isn’t just about speed; it’s about power,” emphasizing the potential to redefine fiber network capabilities to meet futuristic needs.
Netomnia serves 2.4 million premises, while YouFibre and brsk provide connections to 310,000 customers. The group’s annual expansion rate will extend its reach to five million premises by 2027, supported by a hefty £1.5 billion in funding. This places them among the UK’s leading scalable retail and wholesale networks.
The SDX 6400 Series shines in its modular design and open interface support, allowing existing PON networks to support ultra-high-speed services. This capability is crucial as demand for bandwidth-intensive activities like AI applications and 5G backhaul grows. Adtran’s Stuart Broome stated, “The deployment demonstrates how our SDX 6400 Series empowers operators to scale capacity, accelerate service delivery and support next-generation applications.”
Adtran’s technology not only ensures the delivery of 50G PON rates over existing fiber infrastructure but also aligns with sustainability objectives. Its compact, energy-efficient design helps operators meet green goals without compromising performance. This positions the deployment as a beacon for future residential, enterprise, mobile transport, and smart city projects.
