Belgian operator Belgacom has activated a nationwide VDSL2 vectoring network which it says will deliver vastly faster fixed broadband speeds to subscribers. The operator teamed up with network infrastructure vendor Alcatel-Lucent in an effort to extend the capabilities of DSL technology.

Dawinderpal Sahota

February 19, 2014

2 Min Read
Belgacom activates VDSL2 vectoring network
Genesis Technical Systems claims copper enhancement is the way forward

Belgian operator Belgacom has activated a nationwide VDSL2 vectoring network which it says will deliver faster fixed broadband speeds to subscribers. The operator teamed up with infrastructure vendor Alcatel-Lucent as it looked to extend the capabilities of its DSL technology.

The carrier said the technology should increase speeds over copper lines from 30Mbps on VDSL2 to 70Mbps on vectored VDSL2 lines.

Belgacom tested the network with thousands of subscribers throughout 2013 and began activating it in the town of Mechelen in December. The network will soon be activated in the towns of Herstal, Laeken, Roeselaere and Mons and further towns will be connected in another phase starting in April 2014. By 2016, the operator plans to have completed the upgrade of its entire VDSL2 network at 22,000 remote optical cabinets.

The firm explained that it is upgrading the network as it prepares for more sophisticated digital services coming to market, such as TV Replay, personalised content, video on demand, high quality streaming and evolution to 4K Ultra HDTV.

It added that it has been working with Alcatel-Lucent on VDSL2 vectoring since 2011, along with home gateway manufacturers Sagemcom and Technicolor and chipset developers Broadcom and Ikanos.

“Today, Belgacom is living up to the commitment we made back in 2011 to make Belgium one of the world’s leading ultra-broadband nations, with millions of households connected to our fibre and VDSL2 vectoring network,” said Johan Luystermans, VP network engineering and operations with Belgacom.

“We take pride in paving the way of new technologies and are delighted to be the first telecommunications service provider in the world to activate VDSL2 vectoring on a nationwide network.”

In April last year, Alcatel-Lucent announced that it has delivered one million VDSL2 vectoring lines to 11 different service providers, including Belgacom and Telekom Austria. P&T Luxembourg is also trialling the technology, combining VDSL2 vectoring with bonding to double the distance over which 100Mbps can be provided.

Last month, Belgacom appointed Dominique Leroy as its CEO, following the firing of former CEO Didier Bellens.

 

Broadband World Forum takes place on 21st to 23rd October 2014 at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre in Amsterdam

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