NXTcomm08: Adtran takes VDSL2 to the node

LAS VEGAS -- Adtran today announced the addition of VDSL2 technology to its 1100 series of remote access nodes.

VDSL2 is hailed for its ability to enable broadband speeds in the range of 20 Mb/s to 50 Mb/s to customers within 3,000 feet of a node. The technology favored by AT&T in its fiber-to-the-node rollout, built on access gear from Adtran’s larger rival, Alcatel-Lucent. AT&T also continues to deploy legacy HDSL gear from Adtran, though sales of that gear is expected to decline eventually.

Adtran differentiates its nodes from those of other vendors in part by its passive cooling system, which eliminates the need for fans that would add power requirements. Because cabinets are not necessarily required, the nodes don’t require concrete pads, which Adtran says cuts deployment time and costs. And the nodes themselves can be powered over existing copper pairs, eliminating the need for power pedestals at the node. These benefits are due in part to the fact that the nodes are distributed to areas of lower density, resulting in lower power requirements.

Adtran’s 1100 can handle up to 48 VDSL2 ports today, and a single enclosure can house four such units, giving each node the ability serve 192 homes.

Adtran says the 1100 will support pair-bonding of VDSL2 circuits for even higher bandwidth speeds when customer premises gear based on the technique hits the market, which Adtran estimates will happen early next year. It’s not clear how much of a boost pair-bonding could represent; some industry experts have said the method might increase bandwidth by 25% to 30%.