ADTRAN has signed a joint development project with Orange as part of its Access Renewal and Evolution Strategy (ARES) program.
The partnership is focused on the application of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technology to fixed fiber access networks, said Christian Gacon, vice president of Wireline Networks & Infrastructure at Orange.

This work will ensure that Orange can maximize the fiber broadband opportunity, create new business models and deliver better service experience for customers, said Eduard Scheiterer, senior vice president of Research and Development at ADTRAN.

With a goal of building the best network to support Orange’s fiber access network expansion, the companies will focus on the following efforts:

# Create a roadmap for Orange’s possible introduction of a Software-Defined management architecture

# Ensure network elements can integrate with Third Party management, control and/or orchestration platforms and with other network devices

# Secure conformity to Orange’s current and future engineering rules for GPON and XGS-PON architecture

The goal of the partnership is to investigate, test and propose solutions that enable Orange to improve performance, shorten time-to-market for new services while reducing energy consumption in the network, and reduce costs.

This partnership will result in comprehensive architecture studies, technical requirements for the next generation of network nodes, cost models, prototype evaluations, field trials and preparation for potential field rollout within the Orange network.