As one of Europe’s leading providers of communications solutions for the digital transformation, Iskratel’s collaboration in the ONF follows its development of the world’s first “dual-nature” xPON Optical line Terminal (OLT). This transforms its hardware-based SI3000 Lumia GPON OLT into a fully virtualised, CORD®-compatible OLT, via a simple software upgrade. The dual-nature OLT operates as a traditional integrated OLT but also provides a disaggregated white-box solution, based on virtual OLT Hardware Abstraction (vOLTHA) principles.

 

For operators looking to deploy open source software-enabled broadband solutions – including ONF members – Iskratel’s offering eliminates the need for hardware upgrades when virtualising the central office and easing cloudification of the edge. As a result, networks can be seamlessly and cost-effectively upgraded to virtualised, cloud-based infrastructures.

“We are exceptionally proud to be the first solutions provider which can create a traditional hardware architecture with embedded software, while also supporting software-enabled broadband on that exact same hardware,” said Janez Öri, Director Strategy and Business Development at Iskratel. “This means that operators can take their existing hardware-based OLTs and make them work in an open, CORD®-based environment – enabling them to skip an entire hardware investment cycle, granting considerable savings and providing them with a solution which gives them flexibility for the future.”

Iskratel will contribute to ONF’s initiative which is led by some of the world’s largest operators. The group aims to drive transformation of network infrastructure and carrier businesses models. 

Iskratel’s move follows its collaboration with ONF at Broadband World Forum 2018, where it held the first ever live demo of its OLT in CORD® mode at the ONF’s booth.

“As part of our collaboration with the ONF, we hope to be able to work hand-in-hand with some of the world’s leading operators to provide them with an innovative, open and programmable, proven solution which can transform their networks towards software-defined, next-generation access,” Janez added. 

Iskratel will demonstrate its new GPON and XGS-PON OLTs, alongside its comprehensive portfolio of next-generation broadband solutions at Booth S08, at FTTH Conference 2019, which takes place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from Tuesday, March 12 to Thursday, March 14.

A video interview with Janez Öri, Director Strategy and Business Development at Iskratel, discussing Iskatel’s new CORD®-compatible OLT can be found here.