Ikanos said it has achieved aggregate throughput of 300Mbps over a standard, single-pair copper cable at a distance of about 650 feet (200 meters), using the company’s current VDSL chipsets.
The downstream/upstream split will vary between 240/60 and 200/100, depending on factors such as loop length and the VDSL2 bandwidth plan, according to an Ikanos spokesman.
In the U.S., loop lengths tend to be at least 1,500 feet and often longer, diminishing the impact of this news in for local markets, but it can be highly significant in other markets, including much of Europe, where loop lengths are significantly shorter, and where DSL providers are weighing a new network configuration that can take advantage of higher speeds on shorter loops.
European carriers are considering a twist on delivery called fiber to the distribution point (FTTdp). This approach relies on the fact that in many European countries, loop lengths are significantly shorter, in some cases as short as 160 feet (50 meters), and providers do not have limited or no ability to add wiring and other equipment to customers’ dwellings. FTTdp involves deploying an ONT per customer, with the ONT powered from the customer’s side.
The 300Mbps aggregate throughput has been demonstrated on Ikanos’ Vx185 family of communication processors for CPE with Fusiv architecture. Multiple CO configurations will be offered ranging from single-port up to 192 ports.
