Cisco gets big FTTH win in the Netherlands

Cisco announced today that Reggefiber, a major fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband operator in the Netherlands, is rolling out an optical fiber network to three cities in the Netherlands based on the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture and using Cisco Ethernet FTTH (E-FTTH) technology. Reggefiber owns an extensive FTTH network in The Netherlands and current planned projects will add approximately 100,000 to 200,000 households making Reggefiber's FTTH coverage the largest in The Netherlands.

Reggefiber is active in a number of cities in The Netherlands and has recently started laying fiber in the city of Deventer. It will extend the FTTH network to the city of Almere and another city within the next few months. The network will give residents access to broadband speeds of up to 100 megabits per second* (Mbps) initially, and up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) in the future, making it possible to deliver advanced services, such as standard and high-definition IPTV, video on demand, voice over IP services and high-speed Internet services, delivered over a single broadband connection.

Reggefiber has plans to offer FTTH-based broadband services to the majority of residents in The Netherlands. Fiber networks offer the potential of virtually unlimited symmetrical bandwidth, where upstream and downstream traffic can flow at the same speed. This capability is currently unique for mass-market broadband services and opens up new possibilities for future Web 2.0 services.

Peter Kamphuis, director of FTTH operations at Reggefiber, said: "We are building a network of the future for our residential customers. By working with Cisco, we are confident that the network is ready for next-generation data, voice, TV and video services. We have made a clear choice and decided on an Ethernet point-to-point FTTH architecture because it is future-proof and maximizes return on such an important infrastructure investment. By taking fiber optic links directly to the home, we can make sure that the Netherlands will stay at the forefront in broadband technology and services."

"Today's announcement demonstrates Reggefiber's commitment to innovate in the Dutch broadband market," said Coks Stoffer, managing director, Cisco Netherlands. "We have seen increasing interest in FTTH networks throughout Europe and this is an important endorsement for Cisco's E-FTTH technology approach. The high-speed symmetrical bandwidth, low latency and quality of service delivered by Cisco technology creates a new paradigm for services that bring people and content together seamlessly. History has proved that leapfrog innovations such as these are the ultimate breeding ground for truly innovative services."

The optical fiber network that connects the central office or points of presence (PoPs) to the home is the highest-valued asset in FTTH networks. Cisco E-FTTH solutions help protect investments in the network by removing the need to install complex components in the field.

Reggefiber will deploy Cisco Catalyst® 4500 Series Switches as the E-FTTH access platform at its new optical points of presence (PoPs) and a 10 Gigabit Ethernet core network to make optimum use of the increased capacity provided by Cisco 7600 Series Routers. Fujitsu Services will supply, install and support the Cisco equipment.


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