"After China and the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom will experience 50G internet, although no launch date has been set yet."
This advancement will benefit the entertainment, health, and remote work sectors.
The first fiber optic connection in the UK, capable of reaching speeds of 50Gbps, has been successfully tested in a trial conducted by Openreach and Nokia. This technology enables speeds up to twenty times higher than those offered by current services. The test was conducted in Ipswich and used Nokia's 50G PON technology over the complete fiber network of Openreach, achieving download speeds of 41.9Gbps and upload speeds of 20.6Gbps.
To better understand these speeds, one can compare the time needed to download a high-definition movie. While a 100Mbps connection takes approximately seven minutes, and a 1Gbps connection takes about 40 seconds, on a 50Gbps connection the same movie would be ready almost instantly.
The trial was conducted using Openreach's enhanced XGS-PON network, an advanced version of its current infrastructure that allows for higher symmetrical speeds. Trevor Linney, Director of Network Technology at Openreach, emphasized the long-term importance of this trial, stating that it is essential to continue researching and innovating to meet customer demands over the coming decades. He highlighted that the full fiber network under construction is vital for the economic, social, and environmental growth of the UK, and this trial demonstrates that they can continue to improve the speeds and services being offered.
One of the immediate benefits of the 50Gbps connection will be in entertainment, as technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 8K video streaming require high bandwidth and low latency to function optimally. Additionally, this enhanced connectivity will also impact remote work and online learning.
In the healthcare sector, a high-speed connection is crucial for telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and real-time medical imaging. The almost instantaneous transmission of large medical files will allow for faster remote consultations and improve patient care, especially in critical situations.
Sandy Motley, President of Nokia Fixed Networks, indicated that this technology lays the groundwork for even greater advancements in the future, providing Openreach with a comprehensive range of PON technologies and services that can be implemented into its existing fiber network. She highlighted that their fiber solution set enables Openreach to secure future upgrades and adapt to the evolving demands of the network.
The UK joins countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates in testing these broadband speeds, although there is currently no confirmed timeline for a full rollout.
