Industry shift from traditional VDSL2 to VDSL2 vectoring meets massive demand for residential Internet bandwidth and extends life of existing copper access networks.

Alcatel-Lucent further underlined leadership in fixed-line ultra-broadband access by reaching the milestone of 5 million VDSL2 vectoring line shipments. The company is also seeing an industry ‘tipping point’ with VDSL2 vectoring shipments now surpassing non-vectored VDSL2 with operators fully embrace the technology as they seek to meet targets for broadband connectivity in their markets.

VDSL2 vectoring allows operators to deploy ultra-broadband services of up to 100 megabits-per-second over their existing copper telephone networks, making it quick and economical to deploy as a complement to fiber-to-the-home. As a result, operators can rapidly meet rising customer demand for high-definition television, video-on-demand and online gaming while protecting existing investments.

The time-to-market advantage of VDSL2 vectoring also allows operators to meet regulatory targets for broadband coverage, and provides an alternative to competing cable, fiber or LTE services. Operators immediately benefit from increased revenues which in turn help fund longer-term FTTH projects.

As market leaders in fixed ultra-broadband access, Alcatel-Lucent was first to recognize the need for VDSL2 vectoring to complement FTTH solutions, reaching several important milestones in a short space of time:

• In September 2011, thanks to pioneering research from Bell Labs, the company launched the world’s first commercially available VDSL2 vectoring solution with Belgacom the first service provider to adopt the technology
• In January 2012, Telekom Austria subsidiary, A1, was the first service provider to connect customers with the technology
• In October 2012, Alcatel-Lucent launched Zero Touch Vectoring, an innovation that enables operators to roll-our vectoring without having to perform costly and time-consuming upgrades to existing technology in every home
• By April 2013 Alcatel-Lucent had shipped 1 million VDSL2 vectoring lines
• In February 2014, Belgacom and Alcatel-Lucent activated the world’s first nationwide VDSL2 vectoring network

Federico Guillén, head of Alcatel-Lucent’s Fixed Access business said: “To demonstrate how fast demand for VDSL2 vectoring has accelerated, it took around 18 months from launch to shipping the first million lines, and less than a year later to add another 4 million to that total. We have seen endorsement from analysts and customers alike, which has further validated our vision that a mix of copper and fiber technologies is the fastest and most cost-effective way to provide ubiquitous ultra-broadband.”

Alcatel-Lucent is now deploying VDSL2 vectoring technology – both the line cards and system-level processors needed to make them work – with service providers in every region of the world. Our 20 customers include Belgium’s Belgacom, Israel’s Bezeq, KPN in the Netherlands, Telecom Argentina, Telecom Italia, TE Data in Egypt and NBN Co. in Australia. The company has also conducted more than 60 trials of the technology.

Alcatel-Lucent’s market-leading portfolio of fixed ultra-broadband solutions helps operators to evolve their networks quickly to get closer to customers and be the first to take advantage of new opportunities.