NBN Co has demonstrated multi-gigabit download speeds in a field trial on its Hybrid Fibre Coaxial network.
The trial, which involved the deployment of Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) on the HFC access network, achieved a wholesale download speed of 8.7 Gbps and an upload speed of 1.5 Gbps. This marks a significant milestone for NBN Co as it plans to meet Australia's increasing digital demands.
The HFC network, serving around 2.5 million homes and businesses in major Australian cities, currently offers near gigabit speeds through retail providers. NBN Co's ongoing upgrades and investments are designed to support growing customer data demands well into 2030 and beyond.
New equipment in the trial, delivered via CommScope's latest DOCSIS 3.1 DAA node and a new generation DOCSIS 4.0 Cable Modem, showcased the potential of achieving fibre-like speeds for the HFC network. This advancement is expected to increase data capacity and enhance the network's performance, reliability, and power efficiency.
Additionally, NBN Co is moving towards modernising its HFC network by replacing outdated amplifiers. These upgrades are anticipated to provide more capacity and enable efficient remote maintenance.
The integration of telemetry streaming aims to offer real-time network status and insights. When combined with AI and machine learning analytics, it is expected to preemptively identify network issues before they impact services, thus improving service availability and customer experience.
Dion Ljubanovic, Chief Network Officer at NBN Co, commented, "The investments we continue to make in fibre and HFC are expected to enable higher speeds through greater capacity aimed at enabling Australia to be equipped with the reliable and resilient infrastructure it needs to support the nation's rapidly growing data needs."
He further added, "With DAA technology and amplifier upgrades, NBN aims to grow the available Radio Frequency bandwidth over the HFC network to enable more DOCSIS 3.1 channels. Coupled with DOCSIS 4.0 Cable Modems to aggregate these channels, it is expected that wholesale capacities approaching near 10 Gbps can be unlocked, similar to NBN's fibre network."
Ljubanovic stated, "This successful trial demonstrates the potential future technical capability of the HFC network to deliver fibre-like higher speeds in both the downstream and upstream direction which may help support the data needs of millions of households and businesses across the nation."
The successful field trial represents a noteworthy step in advancing Australia's broadband infrastructure, particularly for the HFC network. As the nation's data consumption continues to rise, the ability to scale network capacity and provide faster, more reliable internet services will be essential. This demonstration of multi-gigabit speeds highlights the potential of the HFC network to meet future demands, contributing to the broader effort of enhancing connectivity for millions of homes and businesses across the country.
