“We really wanted to develop a great GPON ONT product that would offer service providers a high-quality, vendor-independent alternative to ONT equipment, something that has been sorely lacking in the market. This product was developed with both service providers and end users in mind, as demonstrated by its ease of use and superior Wi-Fi solution,” says Peter Lund, CEO of Icotera. He highlights four key features of the new i5800 GPON ONT:
• Innovative Wi-Fi solution
• Vendor-independent ONT and OLT compliance
• Ease of use and installation
• Unique Smart Home platform
Innovative Wi-Fi Solution
: As Wi-Fi becomes the preferred home communication technology, the need for a fast and stable wireless connection is increasingly important. The i5800 ONT not only offers backward compatibility (with any 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi certified device) but also includes the latest standard – 802.11ac. With the added 802.11ac solution, the i5800 is capable of delivering up to six times the bandwidth of similar products on the market.
“One of the biggest concerns for service providers and network operators is delivering a stable Wi-Fi connection at end-user premises,” says Kim Esben Jørgensen, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Icotera. “With this product, we are bringing to market a fantastic Wi-Fi solution that allows end users to enjoy wireless connection stability comparable to wired connections. Combined with LAN, VoIP, CATV, and USB 3.0 interfaces, this product truly outperforms other similar products on the market.”
Vendor independence and OLT standard compliance:
Another key feature of the i5800 ONT is its compliance with the GPON standard, making it fully interoperable with all major OLTs on the market. This grants vendor independence, a crucial characteristic of Icotera's product portfolio. The i5800 is not tied to any proprietary back-end network system, which has contributed to its widespread adoption.
Easy to use and install with TR-069 and automatic provisioning.
The i5800 GPON ONT requires less work from operators and service providers. Firmware updates are completed quickly and without risk of failure, thanks to dual-bank firmware updates. Furthermore, there is no need for network operators to invest in expensive management systems (thus locking them into a single vendor); the i5800 is compatible with most current management systems. The ONT can be controlled via a variety of management protocols (e.g., OMCI, SNMP, CLI via SSHv2 or Telnet, TR-069, and an easy-to-use web interface for the operator) or through a fail-safe automatic provisioning mechanism that requires no intervention from Icotera. In addition, the i5800 GPON ONT continues the award-winning industrial design of other Icotera products, including a unique slide-in design that facilitates hassle-free ONT installation.
Integrated Smart Home Platform with Significant Advantages
Another future-oriented feature is the Smart Home platform integrated into the gateway. This platform offers excellent solutions for end users in alarms and surveillance, energy management, and home automation. It is provided by the service provider or network operator, offering them excellent opportunities for additional revenue streams and increased customer loyalty.
"Imagine a hypothetical situation where you can easily unlock your door and disable your alarm system while you're at work, allowing the plumber to enter your home and fix your sink, while your security cameras monitor him to ensure he's doing his job. You can schedule your electrical appliances to turn on or off at specific times, or automatically lower the intensity of your heating system at night or while you're at work to save energy. The i5800 is ready for all of that with our unique cloud-based platform," says Peter Lund.
Commercial Expectations:
Icotera plans to launch the product across Europe, where GPON networks are increasingly being deployed, and expects the GPON ONT to be a sales success.
“We expect it to be a large-scale product – it’s a very strong offering that addresses customers’ need for a high-quality product with the lowest total cost of ownership, the right features, and an attractive design. Following this line, the product has generated significant initial interest, with numerous existing and new customers already testing it,” says Peter Lund.
