Irish wholesale broadband provider SIRO has tested an emerging fibre technology that could allow it to offer symmetrical 10GBps connections to customers.
The ESB-Vodafone joint venture worked with Huawei to trial XGS-PON technology on its FTTH network, which has now passed 120,000 premises in 25 towns.
Standardised in 2016, XGS-PON uses different wavelengths of light to allow multiple signals to travel down the same strand of fibre.
It can offer upload and download speeds of 10GBps to a single end-user and is deployed as an upgrade without the need for further construction.
SIRO said the tech would be particularly appealing to businesses with “high data demands” such as banks.
Ronan Whelan, SIRO Commercial Director, said: “What is exciting about this trial is that these blistering fast speeds have been obtained using the exact same network that carries SIRO’s 100 percent fibre-optic broadband services to homes and businesses across Ireland.
“All we are doing is changing the electronics at either end, with no further construction required.
“To put this capability into perspective, a 10 gigabit broadband connection would be able to transfer one gigabit of data in 0.8 seconds.
“We see the speed and reliability limitations of copper networks and this trial proves how important fibre network rollouts are to provide the platform for growth in Ireland.”
Last month, SIRO signed up Sky as a customer, joining the likes Digiweb, Carnsore Broadband and Kerry Broadband.
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