Plugfest conducts 50G-PON & 25GS-PON interoperability tests

The path towards next-gen superfast fibre optic networks has accelerated thanks to 50G-PON and 25GS-PON interoperability tests at Plugfest.

This vital progress stems from the latest ‘Plugfest’ organised by the Broadband Forum (essentially an intensive workshop where tech companies come together to ensure their new kit plays nicely with everyone else’s.)

What made this particular gathering – hosted in partnership with LANPARK at AT&T Labs’ impressive Plano, Texas facility – especially noteworthy was that it was the first time the much-anticipated 50G-PON got its interoperability stripes. For the speedy 25GS-PON technology, this was its second time under the microscope.

Companies like Adtran, Broadcom, Calix, CIG, Cortina Access, Gemtek, Lambda Networks, MT2, Nokia, Sagemcom, and Vantiva were all present, testing how well their Passive Optical Network (PON) equipment could communicate and operate within emulated network environments. Their collective involvement isn’t just a show of hands; it’s a solid commitment to making sure these advanced technologies are ready for the real world.

Craig Thomas, CEO of Broadband Forum, said: “It’s crucial that the industry prioritises interoperability, co-existence, and collaboration to help broadband service providers excel with the next generation of PON technologies.

“Following the success of the previous Plugfest, it was great to see the industry come together again to advance both 25GS and 50G-PON technologies thanks to the participation of the vendors and involvement of LANPARK and AT&T Labs.”

So, what’s the ultimate goal of these global Plugfests, which are part of a multi-year testing programme? It’s all about giving vendors the confidence – and the proof – that their equipment is interoperable and ready to be seamlessly deployed when connecting our homes and businesses to the core networks of broadband providers.

And it’s not just a closed shop; these events welcome makers of optical line terminal (OLT) and optical network unit (ONU) gear, the chipsets and software stacks that make them tick, right through to Residential Gateway devices with built-in PON interfaces, and even the specialised test and measurement kit.

Sumithra Bhojan, Director-Member of Technical Staff at AT&T Labs, commented: “During the Plugfest, AT&T Labs emphasised the importance of interoperability in diverse operator networks to enable a multi-vendor broadband ecosystem.

“This is critical as PON technologies evolve. The Broadband Forum plays a key role in fostering collaboration among operators, silicon, optics, software, and equipment suppliers, ensuring seamless integration and innovation across the ecosystem.”

Thierry Doligez, CEO of LANPARK, added: “At each Plugfest, we see significant interoperability improvements between the products presented by manufacturers. This demonstrates the importance of these testing events and the relevance of the PON interoperability program conducted by the Broadband Forum.”

The recent trials saw the 25GS-PON TC-PMD Layer (that’s the bit dealing with how signals are transmitted and received physically) tested for a second time. Crucially, this event was the debut for testing the 25GS-PON OMCI (how the network manages and controls the customer-end equipment) and the all-important 50G-PON TC-PMD Layer.

These aren’t just alphabet soup; they’re benchmarks showing the industry is seriously gearing up and getting its ducks in a row to supply the hardware and software for the fibre networks of tomorrow. The feedback loop from the vendors involved is also a massive part of this, helping to fine-tune test plans and make future Plugfests even more effective.

The work doesn’t stop here, of course. The Broadband Forum already has the next couple of dates in the diary.

The upcoming PON Plugfest will be heading to Europe, hosted by the LANPARK Laboratory in Tours, France, from July 7th to 10th, 2025. On the agenda will be testing for XGS-PON, as well as further refinement of 25GS-PON and 50G-PON.

After that, the action moves back across the pond, with The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) hosting an event from October 6th to 10th, 2025.

What all this boils down to is a clearer, faster track towards a future where our digital experiences are seamless, powerful, and ready for whatever innovations come next.

(Image by Adrian Malec)

See also: Adapt or disappear: The future for altnets

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Tags: 25gs-pon, 50g-pon, broadband, broadband forum, connectivity, fibre optic, interoperability, Networks, plugfest, telecoms