Nokia scores a new PON deal with Openreach

Finnish kit vendor Nokia received a boost to its fixed line business by securing a bunch of fibre work from UK network wholesaler Openreach.

Openreach is the semi-autonomous bit of BT that manages its wholesale fixed line network. As a consequence it is the company most responsible for rolling out fibre to the home across the UK, which means it needs lots of optical kit. Much of the announcement focuses on what a great idea fibre is, what with it being much faster than copper and all that, and how good for the country having more of it is.

They do eventually get to the point, however, noting that Nokia’s contribution to the Openreach fibre rollout, which is aiming to reach 4.5 million premises by the end of March 2021, will focus on deploying GPON and XGS-PON access technologies. This will futureproof the network by giving it the ability to deliver up to 10Gb/s symmetrical broadband speeds in the future, as well as giving it the latest virtualization bells and whistles.

“We’re accelerating our full fibre build to deliver an ultrafast, ultra-reliable and futureproof broadband network throughout the UK,” said Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach. “This new digital platform will help our economy to bounce back more quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic – enabling people to continue work from home, and millions of businesses to operate seamlessly online for decades to come.

“Right now, we’re making the new network available to around 32,000 homes and businesses every week, and Nokia’s innovative solutions are helping us to build it better, broader and faster. Our partnership with Nokia will be critical in helping us to upgrade the nation and hit our target of reaching four and a half million premises by the end of March 2021.”

“Ensuring everybody has access to broadband services is critical, especially during unprecedented times like these where it has become the lifeline to millions working, handling healthcare and learning from home,” said Sandra Motley, President of Fixed Networks at Nokia. “Our fiber solutions will help Openreach bring enhanced ultra-broadband services to millions of new customers across the UK today while our 10G PON technology will help to futureproof their network against whatever may come next.”

All this general talk about the virtues of fibre creates the impression that the deal itself isn’t amazingly significant. On the other hand it at least confirms Nokia’s role in the UK’s fibre network and permits the two companies involved to do a spot of connectivity virtue signalling, so fair enough.

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