Mediacom, one of the leading cable operators in the United States, has tied up with Nokia to bring high-speed broadband access to rural and underserved communities in the United States.
Opensignal’s US Household Survey reported in May 2023 demonstrates the importance of a strong network experience. For households with a high likelihood of switching broadband providers in the next three months, speed / performance is the first or second most important driver.
Nokia said this groundbreaking initiative is driven in part by state and federal grant projects, aiming to bridge the digital divide by leveraging Nokia’s cutting-edge XGS-PON technology.
Mediacom, which currently provides broadband services to 3.3 million homes and businesses across 22 states, will deploy Nokia’s advanced Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) as part of its network expansion plan. This deployment will include both chassis-based OLTs for small, non-conditioned cabinets and node-based OLTs that can withstand harsh outdoor environments when installed on strands or utility poles.
J.R. Walden, Senior Vice President of Technology and Chief Technology Officer at Mediacom, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “Nokia is supplying Mediacom with systems capable of delivering up to 25G PON today. Their platforms not only support our current services but also allow for future growth and expansion. This will enable Mediacom to maintain its position as a market and industry leader in advanced, high-performance data services.”
David Eckard, Vice President of Broadband Partners at Nokia, highlighted the importance of this endeavor in closing the digital divide: “Mediacom’s ambition to connect Rural America is critical to help bridge the digital divide in our communities. Through our onshoring of critical 10G fiber solutions and optical modules to the United States, Nokia will be ready to support operators seeking funding and to connect more people, sooner.”
Jaimie Lenderman, Research Manager & Principal Analyst at Omdia, emphasized the significance of cable operators adopting next-generation PON technologies like XGS-PON and 25G-PON: “Cable operators are increasingly deploying FTTH for both greenfield and overbuild with next-generation PON technologies, such as XGS-PON and 25G-PON because of their inherent energy efficiency and almost unlimited scalability, underscoring the MSO green networking strategy.”
According to Dell’Oro, Nokia is the largest global provider of XGS-PON technology, and it’s worth noting that seven out of ten homes in the USA with fiber-optic connectivity are served using Nokia equipment.
This partnership between Mediacom and Nokia marks a significant step toward expanding high-speed internet access to previously underserved areas, contributing to the ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in the United States.