Nokia, in partnership with OTE Group, a member of Deutsche Telekom, announced two world records in optical transmission speeds using Nokia’s latest Photonic Service Engine (PSE-6s) technology.
The field trials took place over OTE Group’s national Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network, which connects IP core data centers and routers across Greece.
OTE Group has achieved record-breaking transmission speeds by installing optical nodes in Patra and Athens. Nokia and OTE Group transmitted 800 Gbps on a single channel over a distance of 2,580 km and 900 Gbps over 1,290 km.
They also demonstrated a transmission of 1.2 Tbps on a single channel over 255 km. This performance was achieved using a full load of DWDM channels over 4.8 THz of spectrum, resulting in a total network capacity of 25.6 Tbps per fiber.
Nokia’s PSE-6s technology not only enhances network capacity and spectrum efficiency but also reduces energy consumption by 40 percent, contributing to a lower carbon footprint. Michalis Papamichail, Director of OTE Group Core Network DevOps and Technology Strategy, expressed pride in the advanced backbone DWDM network they have built and their commitment to further technological advancements in collaboration with Nokia.
OTE Group Capex
OTE Group provides a range of services, including fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband, pay-TV, and integrated ICT solutions.
OTE Group has achieved significant progress in its fixed and mobile segments, driven by investment in fiber optic (FTTH) and 5G networks in the second quarter of 2024.
In 2024, OTE Group expects Capex (capital expenditure) of €610 million – €620 million, mainly for the deployment of its FTTH infrastructure.
In Q2 2024, Capex of OTE Group was €156.1 million, down 6.4 percent from Q2 2023. OTE expanded Greece’s largest FTTH network, extending its footprint to additional households and businesses. Capex of OTE in Greece and Romania stood at €145.5 million and €10.6 million, respectively.
Fiber Expansion: By the end of June 2024, OTE had expanded its Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network to reach 1.46 million homes, capturing over 75 percent of the market’s total installed FTTH lines.
OTE plans to further expand its network to 1.8 million homes by the end of the year, including areas in semi-urban and rural Greece, as part of the Ultra-Fast Broadband Infrastructure (UFBB) initiative. This project, partially subsidized, will deliver internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
The company saw record FTTH customer additions, with 38,000 new subscribers in the quarter, raising its FTTH user base to 324,000. OTE’s network supports 40 percent of competitor subscribers as well, with overall utilization of its fiber infrastructure increasing to 24 percent.
The European Commission’s approval of a Gigabit Voucher plan is expected to further boost adoption, offering €200 vouchers for 250 Mbps connections. Additionally, OTE’s volume discounts at the wholesale level aim to promote fiber optic services across the market.
Mobile Expansion: OTE’s 5G network now covers over 99 percent of Greece’s population, positioning the company as a leader in next-generation technology.
OTE was the first operator to launch 5G+ in Greece, achieving 50 percent population coverage, with plans to reach 60 percent by the end of 2024. The new 5G Stand-Alone (SA) technology promises faster speeds, lower latency, and better indoor coverage, contributing to the realization of a “Gigabit Society.”
Average data consumption on OTE’s mobile network rose sharply to 13.2 GB per month, up from 10.3 GB in the same quarter last year, reflecting the growing demand for high-speed data.
With FTTH penetration still at 13 percent of OTE’s broadband connections and FTTx penetration reaching 65.7 percent, the company sees significant room for future growth as it continues to focus on network upgrades and customer expansion.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
