Iskratel’s Innbox G69 allows additional managed access points to be added to the home gateway, increasing the number of Wi-Fi channels that can be accessed. Use of Power Line Communication (PLC) for the uplink ensures switching between access points does not cause disturbance, allowing Wi-Fi to be accessed in places the signal could not previously reach, such as basements or gardens. The device also selects the optimum Wi-Fi channel, guaranteeing best performance.

A number of monitoring and diagnostic functionalities have also been included in the latest software release. Operators can scan end users’ connections and view information they can then use to improve the Wi-Fi settings, such as which users are online, connection speeds and transmit power. Quality of experience (QoE) and quality of service (QoS) are also addressed, as well as issues with speed and bandwidth.

“The standard of Wi-Fi within the home is an issue many vendors are looking to address and in the past, Wi-Fi repeaters have been proposed as a solution but these can result in additional interference,” said Mitja Golja, Director Broadband Solutions at Iskratel. “Our solution solves this by allowing access points to use the same wireless network settings so switching between them happens without disturbance. As a result, operators can not only greatly improve the service they are providing to their customers but also look at launching next-generation services, such as connected home applications, which depend on superior Wi-Fi performance.”

Iskratel will showcase the Innbox G69 for the first time at the FTTH Conference in February. The company will exhibit its SI3000 Lumia GPON (OLT) solutions, which feature network processors to give operators more control over their networks. The solution is also capable of being updated with future protocols, future-proofing operators’ networks and reducing OpEx.