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NEWS IN BRIEF
ADTRAN delivers disruptive
gigabit-to-the-basement
ADTRAN has announced its new disruptive Gfast deployment
model to enable network operators to deliver gigabit speeds
as widely as possible throughout their networks. Operators in
highly competitive, dense urban and urban environments are
often challenged in their ability to extend their fibre-based
gigabit services because of the time and cost associated with
trenching fibre.
Typical Fibre to the Distribution Point (FTTdp) or Building
(FTTB) solutions extend fibre services by 50 -100m, however
with ADTRAN’s new Gigabit-to-the-Basement (GTTB) solution,
gigabit services can be extended out to 650m from where
the fiber ends. This added distance eliminates construction
requirements that can often delay service roll outs, enabling
service providers to offer gigabit services in just days or weeks
versus months or years. ADTRAN’s GTTB solution overcomes
the construction impediments that usually slow down new
service introduction. By launching gigabit services from the
existing fibre-fed cabinet locations, operators are able to roll
out services 2-5 times faster and at a fraction of the cost of
traditional FTTdp/B solutions.
This new solution expands the ADTRAN Gfast portfolio
by combining ADTRAN’s 2nd generation SDX 2200 series
of 212MHz, reverse powered Gfast DPUs with the ADTRAN
bonded Super-Vectoring (VDSL2 35b) technology, providing
gigabit rates from existing cabinet infrastructure and
thus extending gigabit services significantly. ADTRAN’s
innovative GTTB service supports network operators’ ability
to significantly expedite gigabit services deployments to a
considerable percentage of their customer base. n
Cable certifiers cripple cash
flow for installers
A new White Paper published by IDEAL Networks has revealed
that the cost of cable certifiers is posing serious cash flow
challenges for businesses installing and testing data cable. The
results of extensive research interviews conducted within the
cable installation and testing industry by IDEAL Networks over
the past 18 months are revealed in the publication, entitled ‘Five
frustrations and challenges for data cable installers in 2017’.
One of the key issues identified is that the cost of cable certifiers
causes cash flow difficulties in many businesses.
“Cable certifiers are undoubtedly one of the more expensive
pieces of equipment for installing or testing data cables,” says Tim
Widdershoven, Global Marketing Manager for IDEAL Networks.
“However, most believe they are an unavoidable capital expense
and continue to buy numerous certifiers upfront, despite the
impact this may have on cash flow in their business.”
As well as making cash flow challenging, the research found
that purchasing numerous certifiers can occupy budget that may
be better spent on other projects, or on different equipment.
These cash flow difficulties can also have a knock-on effect,
reducing flexibility to spend within the business. n
European funding can spur UK
development of HPC technology Nordic markets
investment tops $3bn
The UK data centre industry must seize the opportunity to access funding
provided by the European Commission and use it to become a world leader in High
Performance Computing (HPC) technology. This is according to Greg McCulloch,
CEO of Aegis Data.
The European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program has made €40 million
available to finance the development of HPC technology, and the government is
encouraging UK organisations to apply for this funding, despite the uncertainty
around Brexit. The European Commission has identified HPC as a key technology
to drive significantly faster data processing and the development of new services
and business models across Europe. Originally used by researchers to analyse huge
quantities of data, HPC is now growing in popularity across the commercial sector
thanks to its potential to support emerging technologies that generate vast reams
of data.
McCulloch commented: “The release of funding to finance the development of
HPC presents the UK data centre industry with a fantastic opportunity to hone
its existing expertise in HPC and become a hub for the management, processing
and storage of data generated by emerging technology.” He added: “The rise
of