Eltex starts XGS-PON terminal production for operators

Eltex has begun serial production of XGS-PON terminals for telecom operators, marking its entry into 10 Gbps passive optical access equipment.

The Novosibirsk-based network equipment maker's new line includes station and subscriber terminals for operators. It says the range will help carriers add multi-gigabit broadband services while continuing to use existing fibre infrastructure built for GPON networks.

XGS-PON is emerging as a preferred upgrade path in fixed broadband because it supports symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Operators can introduce it gradually, since GPON and XGS-PON users can be connected over the same physical network when compatible equipment is installed at the access node.

The shift comes as internet traffic continues to rise worldwide. In Eltex's market overview, global traffic more than doubled between the end of 2019 and 2022, from 2,401 exabytes to 5,291 exabytes, while daily network use now exceeds 33 exabytes.

That increase is changing demand in both households and businesses. A home with several 4K video streams, cloud gaming, video calls, large downloads, and Wi-Fi 6 or Wi‑Fi 7 devices can push bandwidth above 1 Gbps. Medium-sized companies using videoconferencing, cloud services, and file sharing can require around 3 Gbps during peak periods.

Upgrade path

For operators, one attraction of XGS-PON is that migration from GPON does not require a complete rebuild of access networks. Existing fibre lines can remain in place, with changes focused on active equipment at communications nodes and customer premises.

Eltex's LTX series station terminals marked with the letter C use ComboPON ports, allowing GPON and XGS-PON subscribers to connect through a single port. That gives operators a staged migration path rather than requiring a full switchover.

The company's 1U LTX-16 and LTX-16C 16-port terminals can connect up to 4,096 XGS-PON subscribers or 2,048 GPON subscribers. Eltex describes that specification as unusual even in overseas markets.

The market case for faster optical access is also being shaped by developments outside Russia. In China, operators have been moving from GPON to 10G PON in urban areas, driven by demand for bandwidth-heavy services and continued expansion in fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-building connections.

Chinese operators have already made 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps tariffs widely available and are now moving towards 10 Gbps offers. In Europe, operators have largely adopted a gradual transition strategy, with France providing one of the clearest examples of rising retail broadband speeds.

Orange France plans to make 10 Gbps tariffs available to all customers using XGS-PON, while rivals SFR and Bouygues Telecom already offer packages with speeds of up to 8 Gbps. In the United States, providers have focused more on business users and high-end residential developments, although multi-gigabit roll-outs are spreading to broader local markets.

Domestic position

Eltex says it is the only Russian developer of both OLT and ONT equipment for xPON networks. That gives it a notable domestic position as operators weigh network upgrades and supply risks in telecom infrastructure.

The company has long supplied GPON equipment to carriers and is now shifting attention to XGS-PON as operators consider how to meet rising traffic demand over the next several years. It argues that 10 Gbps passive optical systems offer a practical mid-term option before wider adoption of 50G-PON and 100G-PON equipment.

Beyond headline speed, operators are also responding to changing traffic patterns. Broadband usage is becoming more symmetrical as customers upload more data through cloud services, video platforms, and remote working tools, increasing the importance of strong upstream performance rather than download speed alone.

Several regional operators have already launched test sections using LTX equipment, according to Eltex. It says those pilots showed the systems were ready for broader deployment in carrier networks.

The broader economic case for broadband investment remains part of the backdrop. The World Bank has estimated that each 10% increase in broadband penetration can raise global GDP growth by 1.38%, while a doubling of bandwidth can add 0.3%.

Founded in 1992, Eltex develops telecommunications equipment and software for service providers, enterprises, and public sector organisations. It says it supplies projects across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, combining in-house development with its own manufacturing and testing operations.

The release of the XGS-PON range places Eltex in a segment of growing importance as operators seek to introduce new fixed broadband tariffs for business customers, premium residential developments, and heavy household users. The company says regional operator trials using LTX equipment have confirmed high performance and readiness for large-scale deployment.