Verizon scorches optical broadband network with 10 Gbps FiOS test

Verizon claims that its FiOS network has hit 10 Gbps speeds that let it deliver 1 Gbps to a pair of computers in a customer's home. According to Verizon, the test transmissions delivered 1.85 Gbps in aggregate bandwidth in each direction to the home and transmission speeds close to 1 Gbps to each of the two PCs.

It's a nice display for Verizon and justification for its decision to roll out an FTTH network but the speeds aren't on the near horizon for Verizon subs. Right now, FiOS offers 50 Mbps to subs willing to pay $140 a month. The tests were intended--and in fact did show--what can happen when customer homes are fed over fiber networks using a 10 gigabit PON system. Verizon's speed test server in Reston, Va., 400 miles from the test epicenter, clocked speeds up to 915 Mbps between the PC and the server.

The bit qualifier is that Verizon has throttled back expansion of its FiOS network so only those areas currently on the waiting list for service--or currently in service areas--even have a faint glimmer of getting these kinds of speeds. As if anyone needs them.

The U.S. cable industry, meanwhile, is not sitting back and watching Verizon build the bionic network. According to Multichannel News, CableLabs is studying ways to delivery multiple gigabits of data over the HFC network.

Overseas, Virgin Media plans to launch a 100 Mbps service later this year and is currently testing a 200 Mbps package. If that's not enough, the cable giant revealed that it has a DOCSIS 3.0 modem capable of handling 400 Mbps.

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