The rise of fiber optics was long expected to render copper obsolete in telecommunications, even though copper remains more widespread and less costly. That assumption is now shifting as new technologies revive copper, making it faster, stronger and more capable.
One of the key problems with small cells is the amount of fiber that is needed.
At the Broadband World Forum in Amsterdam, Genesis’ President and CTO Stephen Cooke told attendees that bonded copper solutions can deliver the capacity needed to support high volumes of data traffic in suburban areas where copper infrastructure already exists, thereby requiring minimal new investment.
“In a technological landscape that is constantly growing, changing and developing, it’s good to take a step back and evaluate existing infrastructures,” Cooke said.
He added: “It’s important not to overlook the properties and capabilities of what is already in place. Rolling out the next big technology doesn’t automatically justify massive fiber investments just because market sentiment suggests it. There are exciting developments that significantly extend copper’s capabilities.”
Though he did not name it explicitly, one of the technologies Cooke was likely referring to is G.fast, which has drawn considerable attention. Early trials have shown promising results.
In real-world tests, BT reported downstream speeds of around 800 Mbps and upstream speeds exceeding 200 Mbps. Bell Labs has pursued a related technology, XG.fast, which achieved an impressive 10 Gbps in controlled laboratory conditions.
Genesis highlights a practical challenge with small cell deployments: the heavy demand for fiber to support each cell, which raises deployment costs. Because each small cell must be economically viable, the fiber requirement often makes rollouts prohibitively expensive.
“Revitalizing existing copper through bonding techniques is one of the most cost-effective backhaul options available. It creates an opportunity for fixed incumbents to enter the mobile market by leveraging their copper networks to provide both backhaul bandwidth and power to small cells,” Cooke said.
Copper presents a viable, lower-cost answer to certain infrastructure challenges—if operators are willing to reconsider its role.
Should operators take another look at copper? Share your thoughts in the comments.