Suo Cable Net, a Japanese cable TV operator, has selected Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) to design, integrate and deploy a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) solution.

 

This new network, which will enable Suo Cable Net to begin rolling out high-speed Internet and video services this month, will be the first commercial GPON deployment in Japan.

 

Japan, with more than 10 million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) subscribers, is one of the most advanced countries in terms of high-speed broadband coverage.

 

GPON technology is expected to elevate Japan's end-user broadband experience, supporting downstream capacities of up to 2.5 Gbps.

 

This will significantly outpace the widely used Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GEPON) 1 Gbps downstream bitrates, enabling much faster delivery of content and the ability to handle extremely large files such as full-length movies.

 

"With Alcatel-Lucent's industry-leading GPON solution, we will be able to offer our customers broadband capacities that support the delivery of high-definition TV and high-speed Internet services," said Tetsuaki Kanai, vice president of Suo Cable Net.

 

Suo Cable Net is in charge of providing cable TV services in Yanai City. Cable TV is a key measure for the city to aim the information-oriented society with better Internet connectivity and to respond demands for receiving digital TV programs, which are in line with the country's "e-Japan" initiatives.

 

As part of the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its 7342 Intelligent Services Access Manager Fiber-to-the-User (ISAM FTTU) solution, leveraging GPON technology to multiplex video and data services onto a single fiber. This solution supports a 2.5 Gbps downstream capacity, which will enable the highest bandwidth mass market offering, allowing the service to deliver more content at higher speeds.

 

Alcatel-Lucent's 7342 ISAM FTTU solution is complemented by the widest range of optical network terminals (ONTs) - supporting FTTH, fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) and mobile backhaul. By selecting Alcatel-Lucent to integrate, test and manage the deployment of the network, Suo Cable will lower their deployment risk.

 

"We are very excited to be part of the first-ever commercial deployment of GPON technology in Japan," said Frederic Rose, president of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in Europe, Africa and Asia.

 

"FTTH architectures are clearly the end-game of any planned or ongoing access network transformation. GPON stands out as the optimal and most cost-effective FTTH technology option - thanks to its stability, scalability, flexible management and operations, as well as its guaranteed evolutionary path. GPON will allow Japanese end-users to truly experience the power of next-generation triple-play services,” Rose added.

 

Alcatel-Lucent provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprise and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move.