HT and Nokia First in Croatia to Test Broadband 25G PON Optics with Speeds of 20 Gigabits per Second

Croatian Telekom and Nokia have tested the advanced optical 25G PON technology in HT’s laboratory in Rijeka, among the first in the world. This is the latest generation of optical networks, which increases download and upload speeds to unprecedented levels, with a measured speed of 20 gigabits per second in the Rijeka laboratory.

The 25G PON technology is ten times faster than the GPON technology that HT first enabled for gigabit broadband access in 2007 and two and a half times faster than the XGS-PON technology applicable in the HT network since 2021. The equipment currently used by Croatian Telekom is ready for 25G PON, meaning that no adjustments to the main systems are necessary to realize its commercial availability  which will enable its commercial application once user services for such ultra-high bandwidth networks are developed.

The greatest advantages of 25G PON optics are high capacities, cost optimization, broader application  and easy integration into HT’s existing optical network, and its application will accelerate the introduction and development of advanced high-performance solutions, such as big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, 5G transport via PON, and wholesale ultra-high capacity services.

– Ten years ago, a technology was launched that enabled the transition to HDTV, without which many of us could not imagine our daily lives, and today the 25G PON optical network is making history with speeds 200 times faster than then. By testing 25G PON optics among the first in the world, Croatian Telekom demonstrates its commitment to establishing and maintaining the best customer experience through monitoring and introducing the latest global technological trends“, said Ivan Uremović, Director of the Strategy and Planning Department for Access Networks.

Croatian Telekom is one of the first companies from the Deutsche Telekom Group to test Nokia’s broadband 25G PON optics.

Manfred Egger, Head of Business Development for Fixed Access Networks at Deutsche Telekom and Central Europe at Nokia, said: “25G PON works seamlessly on the same hardware as existing GPON and XGS-PON broadband technologies. We are very proud to have successfully completed this important testing, which confirms the ease with which communication service providers can expand the scope and capacity of broadband access.“

In 2021, Croatian Telekom increased its fixed network with a record introduction of optics for an additional 100,000 households and businesses, and the total FTTH coverage increased by 30 percent compared to the previous year. HT was also awarded the umlaut award „Best in Test" for the best fixed network in 2021.

The expansion of the fixed network and investment in gigabit networks continues in 2022 with a strong focus on building optical infrastructure.