Broadband Forum Tests Interoperability of Both XGS-PON and 25GS-PON

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Device vendors recently advanced the adoption of high-speed fiber connectivity technologies at a Broadband Forum “Plugfest” event hosted by CableLabs in Louisville, Colorado.

The Plugfest brought together leading companies from the fiber sector to test the readiness of their XGS-PON and 25GS-PON technologies and ensure the interoperability of fiber products connecting homes to broadband service providers’ core networks.

“Plugfests are a vital tool that help device vendors overcome compatibility worries,” said Broadband Forum CEO Craig Thomas. “The goal of this and future Plugfests is to ensure that all broadband service providers are ready for the next generation of fiber connectivity, regardless of whether they are deploying GPON, XGS-PON, 25GS-PON, 50G-PON technologies or those beyond.”

Participating companies included Askey Technology, AVM GmbH, Calix, CIG, Comtrend, Cortina Access, Evolution Digital, Gemtek Technology Co. Ltd., Harmonic, Inc., Hitron Technologies Inc., MT2, Nokia, Sagemcom Broadband SAS, Sercomm, TraceSpan Communications, and Vantiva. These organizations tested the interoperability of their systems to ensure fiber equipment can deliver the high-quality connectivity experience consumers expect.

Leveraging the results of their tests, vendors are empowered to enhance the interoperability of their products, driving greater industry collaboration and innovation. Additionally, feedback from participating vendors was instrumental in refining Broadband Forum’s test plans, ensuring continued improvement and success at future testing events.

Test case categories included 25GS-PON TC-PM and XGS-PON OMCI, guided by Broadband Forum’s TR-309 Issue 3: PON TC Layer Interoperability Test Plan and TR-255 Issue 2: G-PON & XG-PON & XGS-PON Interoperability Test Plan documents.

“The industry recognizes the importance of ensuring interoperability between fiber network equipment and the recent event yielded encouraging results,” said CableLabs Vice President of Wired Technologies Curtis Knittle. “Our labs are ideal for hosting Plugfests because we provide state-of-the-art testing equipment and expertise, which enables collaboration and interoperability testing in a secure, neutral environment.”

The next PON Plugfest, scheduled for February 24-28, 2025, will be hosted by AT&T Labs and LANPARK at the AT&T Broadband Labs in Plano, Texas. It will focus on 25GS-PON and 50G-PON (HSP) test case categories. Another event is planned for summer 2025 at LANPARK’s test laboratory.

Registration for the February PON Plugfest is now open. For more information or to register, visit Broadband Forum’s Event Page.

About the Broadband Forum

The Broadband Forum is an industry-driven global standards development organization helping operators, application providers, and vendors deliver better, services-led broadband.

As the industry-recognized center of competence, the Broadband Forum provides an accessible, efficient, and effective community where all broadband stakeholders can collaborate on, develop, and promote open standards and open software. This provides the basis for deployable solutions for the global broadband industry.

The forum publishes interoperable standards and open software, has launched certification programs, and promotes industry education. These best practices and models can be adopted to help realize an effective broadband ecosystem that drives a thriving, services-led broadband industry based on global collaboration, open standards, and open source, maximizing value for all stakeholders.

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