AT&T has selected Nokia to deploy fiber access technology as part of its strategy to win more broadband customers.
AT&T has broadband customers in the last three years. The number of broadband users of AT&T has reached 13.729 million in 2023 as compared with 13.753 million in 2022 and 13.845 million in 2021.
But the number of fiber broadband connections has reached 8.307 million in 2023 from 7.215 million in 2022 and 5.992 million in 2021, AT&T annual report indicated.
Nokia deal
Nokia will provide its Lightspan MF and Altiplano platforms to support the largest fiber network in the world.
Nokia did not reveal financial details of the five-year deal with AT&T. Last year, AT&T selected Nokia rival Ericsson for its open RAN project.
The contract announced today by Nokia will include fiber network upgrades to AT&T’s current footprint and next-generation fiber technologies for future network expansions and is Build America, Buy America-compliant.
AT&T will use Nokia’s fiber solutions to establish a future-ready network capable of addressing the demand for more capacity and enhanced broadband services. Nokia’s Lightspan platform is designed to support PON technologies from 10/25/50/100G. Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller will also help drive higher levels of automation in AT&T’s network and service operations.
AT&T’s investment in fiber deployment has enabled the US telecom operator to add 1 million plus AT&T Fiber customers last year. AT&T has closed the year 2023 with more than 26 million consumer and business locations passed with fiber.
At December 31, 2023, AT&T had more than 8.3 million fiber consumer wireline broadband customers, adding 1.1 million during the year. AT&T says its broadband revenue was $10.455 billion in 2023 as compared with $9.669 billion in 2022 and $9.085 billion in 2021.
AT&T has made significant investments to convert to a software-based network, managing the migration of wireline customers to services using fiber infrastructure to provide broadband technology. Software-based technologies align with its leadership in software defined network (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV).
Chris Sambar, Head of Network at AT&T, said: “Expansion will not only enhance broadband access for millions of customers but also sets the stage for the next wave of digital innovation, including Industry 4.0, smart cities, IoT applications, and ultra-high-definition streaming.”
Sandy Motley, President of Fixed Networks at Nokia, said: “Our fiber solution opens the door to a full range of PON technologies available on the same platform and fiber. This includes 10/25G PON today and eventually 50/100G PON in the future.”
Baburajan Kizhakedath
