Alcatel-Lucent sees 'tipping point' as vectored VDSL2 shipments surpass non-vectored

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) continues to find success in its traditional copper access business, announcing that it has shipped 5 million vectored VDSL2 lines.

While there's still a large amount of carriers using traditional ADSL technology, Alcatel-Lucent said that it is seeing what it calls a "tipping point" with VDSL2 vectoring shipments now surpassing non-vectored VDSL2 as service providers look to meet broadband goals.  

By using VDSL2 with vectoring, a service provider can theoretically deliver up to 100 Mbps by leveraging existing copper network infrastructure.

The vendor's aggressive VDSL2 vectoring moves were reflected in its first-quarter 2014 financial results where its fixed access revenues were $631 million, up 2.8 percent from the first quarter of 2013.

It now has more than 20 VDSL2 vectoring customers, including the activation of what it says is the first nationwide network with Belgacom, Belgium's largest telecom service provider. In February, Belgacom introduced its VDSL2 vectoring service, offering speeds up to 70 Mbps, more than double the speed of its existing 30 Mbps VDSL2 service.

Other Tier 1 telco customers include Israel's Bezeq, KPN, Telecom Argentina, Telecom Italia, TE Data in Egypt and NBN Co. In addition, the company has conducted more than 60 trials of the technology.

For more:
- see the release

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