The latest telecom news includes announcements on EUTEL, Saba Statia Cable System, AMS-IX, 50G-PON Broadband Ports in China, Zhone, Tellabs, and others.
Eastern Caribbean Internet Exchange Connects Five Islands Through Regional Fiber Infrastructure
Five Eastern Caribbean islands are now connected through a regional internet exchange linking Saint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Kitts. The exchange was developed by EUTEL, Saba Statia Cable System and AMS-IX, combining local facilities, submarine fiber connectivity and an internet peering platform. Networks can exchange regional traffic directly instead of routing it through distant international hubs, potentially reducing latency and transit requirements. Packet Clearing House has also installed supporting internet infrastructure on Saint Eustatius to handle essential requests closer to users. The project has already attracted a major international content provider. Its operators have not disclosed total port capacity, traffic throughput or construction investment.
China Targets One Million 50G-PON Broadband Ports by 2030
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has set a target of deploying one million 50G-PON optical access ports by 2030 under its latest telecommunications development plan. The technology is specified under ITU-T G.9804 and supports 50 Gbps downstream capacity with upstream configurations of at least 12.5 Gbps. The initiative builds on earlier Chinese optical access trials covering fiber-to-the-room, Wi-Fi 7 integration and advanced broadband applications. Equipment suppliers expect wider availability of standardized terminals from 2027, although deployment costs and power consumption remain challenges. The one-million figure is a national target, not an installed-base total or a confirmed purchase order for any single operator.
Zhone Acquires Tellabs to Expand Fiber Broadband and Optical Network Equipment Portfolio
Zhone has acquired US telecommunications equipment company Tellabs, combining two established suppliers of broadband access and optical networking technology. The transaction adds Tellabs’ fiber LAN and enterprise optical-network products to Zhone’s existing NetComm portfolio, which covers fiber broadband, fixed wireless access, fiber extension and home connectivity equipment. Tellabs has operated for approximately 51 years and serves enterprise, government and telecommunications customers.
Shentel Completes Virginia Fiber Upgrade Offering 8 Gbps Residential and 100 Gbps Business Speeds
Shenandoah Telecommunications has completed a fiber-network upgrade in Buchanan, Virginia, making higher-capacity connections available to approximately 1,000 homes and businesses. Residential users can access symmetrical speeds of up to 8 Gbps, while qualifying business customers can obtain symmetrical connections of up to 100 Gbps. The upgrade covers the community in Botetourt County and uses Shentel’s existing local fiber infrastructure. Customers can retain current service arrangements or migrate to faster tiers where eligible. The company has not disclosed a standalone construction budget or the exact number of newly installed fiber miles. The completion marks an operational capacity upgrade rather than a proposed future rollout.
Spectrum Expands Fiber Broadband Infrastructure to 3,200 Homes in California’s Silverwood Development
Spectrum has signed a long-term agreement to supply broadband and managed Wi-Fi connectivity across the Silverwood master-planned community in Hesperia, California. The first development phase covers approximately 3,200 homes, with more than 200 residences already receiving service. The network agreement with DMB Development provides infrastructure for a residential district that is expected to grow through subsequent construction phases. The wider plan includes schools, parks and other community facilities, creating additional potential connection points as building proceeds.
