(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Crdjan)
G.fast is being promoted as the next major step in broadband technology because it can deliver very high speeds while reusing existing copper infrastructure. Developed by Alcatel‑Lucent’s Bell Labs, G.fast has undergone trials with operators worldwide, and Chunghwa Telecom is now the first to launch a commercial G.fast service.
Mu‑Piao Shih, President of Chunghwa Telecom, said that the company has made significant progress in improving its broadband services and is proud to be the world’s first provider to offer commercial G.fast broadband. He added that with Alcatel‑Lucent’s G.fast technology, Chunghwa Telecom will be ready to roll out ultra‑high‑speed network services by the end of the year and provide customers with industry‑leading broadband experiences, reinforcing its leadership across fiber broadband offerings from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.
The appeal of G.fast lies in its ability to deliver near‑gigabit speeds without the expense and disruption of replacing the complete access network. In trials, G.fast has approached gigabit‑per‑second throughput. Chunghwa Telecom’s nationwide deployment combines fiber and copper by using Alcatel‑Lucent’s GPON for fiber‑to‑the‑premises alongside G.fast for the shorter copper segments, enabling faster service delivery to homes.
Ken Wu, President and Managing Director of Alcatel‑Lucent Taiwan, noted that Bell Labs recently introduced technology to boost the transmission capacity of traditional copper telephone lines substantially. Taiwan has moved quickly to adopt the latest deployments and has launched commercial services earlier than many other markets, allowing Taiwanese consumers to experience Chunghwa Telecom’s G.fast ultra‑high‑speed broadband.
Wu emphasized that Chunghwa Telecom’s commercial rollout marks an important milestone: by adding G.fast to its portfolio, the operator can flexibly and cost‑effectively serve a range of deployment scenarios and connect customers at the highest possible speeds in a competitive market.
Over the next few years, Chunghwa Telecom plans to offer ultrafast broadband access to tens of thousands of households across Taiwan. The rollout will also support the National Communications Commission’s goal of improving fixed broadband availability in rural areas. By pairing new fiber deployments with extensive existing copper lines, G.fast helps the operator accelerate service expansion while containing costs.
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