Author
Phil Sorsky
Full fibre optic technology is widely considered to be the fastest and most reliable way to access the internet. As Europe invests in fibre connectivity, we’re seeing the opportunity for a wide range of services and applications that will improve businesses’ efficiency and productivity, as well as our overall home lives.
For example, Vodafone recently signed a partnership with Cityfibre to build high-speed broadband networks to as many as 5 million United Kingdom homes, according to The Times. This complements investments by Openreach and other providers working towards a full fibre network, so that the world’s sixth largest economy can enjoy the benefits that fast, reliable broadband offers.
CLICK TO TWEET: As consumer demand for data increases, network operators must increase wireless capacity. CommScope's Phil Sorsky explains in this blog.
As Europe heads toward a gigabit society, the next generation of citizens will expect to compete and thrive on the world stage. Connected health, transport, and farming will be as common as having access to electricity while the demand for performance will continue, from bandwidth to batteries, across every technological dimension.
Here are a ways Europe can drive smarter connectivity based on what I’ve been hearing from our customers and industry partners.
Governments are making robust communications a priority
With increasing speed and bandwidth, smart connectivity between people and increasingly intelligent devices will have a vast impact on our lifestyle and economy. For example, critical safety services for controlling autonomous transportation will require a symmetrical, low-latency, unrestricted broadband utility architecture, both in the fibre backbone and the access network.
Today’s fibre technology can ease connectivity complexity, aid in rapid deployment and speed new service rollout. Now more than ever, installing and maintaining large amounts of fibre can be done faster and more cost effectively.
National utilities are going broadband
European electrical utilities recognize the digital economy as a key pillar of future growth and competiveness on the world stage. These companies see the Internet as a utility, building and owning an open-access FTTH infrastructure and leasing it to partners- who in turn, offer retail internet and other services to subscribers.
SIRO is the only network in Ireland that uses the existing electricity network to provide fibre broadband to homes and business, enabling speeds of 1 gigabit per second. As SIRO rolled out its network, they faced the challenge of building FTTH on top of a live electrical distribution system. SIRO teamed with CommScope, who provided industry expertise and hardened connectivity products which reduced costs and protected against the elements.
Convergence is improving the ROI of FTTH
As consumer demand for data increases, network operators must increase wireless capacity. The use of multiple communication modes on a single network offers convenience and flexibility that are not possible with separate infrastructures.Networks can and will merge into one, saving operator operating expenses (OpEx) and capital expenditures (CapEx) as equipment requirements also become identical.
CommScope’s fibre access terminals portfolio offers plug-and-play connectivity for faster deployments and lower installation costs by minimizing time-consuming splicing and reduced OpEx cost by increased reliability.
Access to fibre will become a key component for businesses across the region, with companies even more under pressure to deliver on a global scale. With that in mind, it is critical that everyone has the same access to the opportunities enabled by connectivity.
Continue the conversation with us at stand P02, taking place in Valencia on 13-15 February. We’d also love to see you during our presentations.
- How analytics and convergence improve the ROI of FTTH
- Fibre foundations the path to fixed-wireless convergence and 5G
