Tech that will boost broadband in 2011

A number of different technologies are being developed or improved to offer higher speeds for fixed and mobile broadband networks, as operators are preparing to compete with each other and carry video traffic in 3D and at higher resolutions, which is expected to happen in the coming year.

Broadband speeds have arrived at the point where increasing them is a challenge for most types of fixed and mobile networks as providers move toward offering 3D and other more advanced services. But, there are things that network providers can do, just as merging several links into one connection in both copper and mobile broadband networks.

The connections in the last mile

But broadband speed isn't just about the connections in the "last mile." Equipment that connects users to a network, for instance, mobile base stations, as well needs to be able to keep up and not become a bottle neck. And raw capacity isn't the only way to increase speed -- content delivery networks, which push content closer to the user so it can be obtained more quickly, will become more widely used, according to Ericsson.

The use of PON innovation in fixed broadband networks has grown in popularity in the last couple of years, thanks to lower costs compared to using an optical fiber for each household. The research calls for several households to share the same capacity, which is sent over a single optical fiber.

Aggregate download capacity of 2

Today's systems have an aggregate download capacity of 2.5G bps. The move to 10G GPON increases that by a factor of four, hence the name. The research is as well capable of an upstream capacity of 10G bps, which is eight times faster than current networks, according to Verizon Communications.

In December 2009, Verizon announced that it had conducted the first field-test for the innovation. Since at the time, a number of operators have conducted tests, including France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Portugal Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom, according to Huawei.