The aim is to lower the costs of components to make WDM-PON competitive for future fiber-based access networks. Ericsson is working with GigaWAM and developing next generation PON technologies, including 10G GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) and WDM-PON. The company made the world’s first live demonstration of a 10G GPON system prototype at NXTcomm, Las Vegas, in June 2008. 

However, 10G GPON and WDM-PON are not standardized yet. Especially for WDM-PON, lowering the cost of components is a critical issue, which will be covered in the GigaWAM project.

The demand for higher broadband speed is increasing. Fiber-based access and WDM-PON will be important technologies to satisfy these bandwidth requirements in the long term. But carriers who want to upgrade their access networks now and in the coming years should be deploying GPON and point-to-point Fiber-to-the-Home, standards with strong business cases. They carry sufficient bandwidth to provide services to all customers at competitive costs. 

GigaWAM press release