In a dynamic year for the cable industry, Comcast took center stage with the successful launch of DOCSIS 4.0, surpassing its commitment to be in the market by the second half of 2023. Unveiling a groundbreaking symmetrical multi-gig service boasting speeds of up to 2 Gbps, Comcast initially introduced this innovation in Colorado Springs, followed by Atlanta and Philadelphia. While plans for a nationwide DOCSIS 4.0 rollout in 2023 are in the pipeline, specific markets remain undisclosed.
In a strategic move to enhance their presence in the North West of England and the Midlands, Freedom Fibre and VX UK have announced a merger, forming a new entity named Freedom Fibre Limited. The combined operation will cover a substantial footprint of 285,000 premises, with Neil McArthur, founder and CEO of Freedom Fibre, leading the helm along with the current senior leadership team from Freedom Fibre.
In a groundbreaking development, Project Kuiper has revealed the successful testing of advanced optical communications payloads on its prototype satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2. The optical inter-satellite link (OISL) capabilities, previously kept confidential, demonstrated the ability to maintain 100 Gbps links over a distance of nearly 621 miles during testing in October.
In the third quarter of 2023, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data reveals a robust global uptrend in fixed network speeds. The median download speed for fixed networks worldwide reached an impressive 83.95 Mbps, marking a substantial 19% increase from 70.3 Mbps in the same quarter of 2022.
Several prominent German telecoms associations, including ANGA, Bitkom, BREKO, BUGLAS, and VATM, have united in a call to the German government, urging a reduction in funding for fibre-optic projects. Citing concerns over the overwhelming response to the German Gigabit funding program, the associations propose a cut in funding to €1 billion between 2024-2026.
EPB, the city-owned broadband provider, has launched a new 2.5-gig residential internet service, expanding its symmetrical speed offerings on the fiber optic network. Priced at $97.99 per month, the 2.5-gig service comes with the installation of EPB’s Wi-Fi 6e router and is available across the service area. VP Katie Espeseth emphasized EPB’s commitment to diversifying network options, with an eye on providing service up to 25-gig.
The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board (IBAB) has approved the allocation of $120 million from the Idaho Capital Projects Fund to support 18 broadband initiatives, providing a significant boost to over 30,000 homes and businesses across the state. In collaboration with the state government, the advisory board strategically targeted projects to enhance crucial areas including distance learning, telehealth, telework, economic development, and public safety.
In a remarkable feat of engineering, Openreach, the UK’s leading digital network provider, is illuminating approximately 60,000 new premises every week, equivalent to the size of Tunbridge Wells in Kent. With a commitment to a £15 billion investment, the company aims to connect 25 million buildings by 2026, with a subsequent target of 30 million by the end of 2030.
Verizon Public Sector has clinched a $15 million task order to upgrade voice and data services for the U.S. Navy’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division. The contract, granted under the federal government’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) procurement initiative, will witness Verizon integrating innovative technologies and services for voice across MWR’s global locations.
In a significant step for Deutsche Glasfaser’s growth strategy, it has elected to utilize Ekinops’ Ekinops360 platform to overhaul and unify its optical transport network across Germany. Deutsche Glasfaser’s choice, after extensive evaluation of several competitive tenders, was driven by a desire for a unified system that provides automation in service provisioning, rapid market-entry industry-leading cost-effectiveness.
