Deep-fiber broadband access is a new and rapidly growing market.

Peter Linder, director of network strategy at Ericsson, says: "The driving force is a surging demand for IPTV fuelled by the transition to HDTV (high-definition TV), with multiple streams to the same household. Through our acquisition of Entrisphere we are well prepared to build networks supporting the next-generation TV experience."

The two key access technologies for fixed broadband access are GPON and VDSL2. Ericsson considers these complementary technologies and has incorporated them into its family of EDA broadband access products.

Entrisphere President Peter Bourne says the convergence of wireline and wireless technologies is one reason Ericsson and Entrisphere are a good match. "Ericsson has a very strong presence in the IMS space as well as content relationships with Sony Ericsson and Napster. These kinds of relationships and the ability to bring both wireless and wireline and the IMS and services level piece together are critical. Nobody else has those strengths - so that's what makes the combination of Ericsson and Entrisphere unique. We have an absolute leadership position in passive optical networking and Ericsson has an absolute leadership position in wireless."

GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Networks) builds on a series of technology enhancements that extend and improve earlier forms of passive optical networks (PONs). GPON is predicted to become the number one fiber technology and many carriers have indicated that they want to migrate to GPON to provide the capacity needed for HDTV services.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology was originally intended to provide a data connection over the conventional copper loop from a carrier's exchange (central office) to a subscriber premises. VDSL2, the most recent DSL technology, can support up to 100Mbps over short loops.

Linder says: "Entrisphere's GPON platform, EDA 1500, is the most advanced in the world, supporting higher capacity that any other. Ericsson is now well prepared, offering the best products, to meet the requirements of the next-generation deep-fiber broadband access market.

"Both VDSL2 and GPON have been evaluated in field trials during 2006 and we expect to see major rollouts of both these technologies during 2007."