Windstream Brings G.fast to MDUs

Windstream has emerged as an early adopter of G.fast, as it will use the emerging advanced DSL platform to bring faster speeds to multiple dwelling units in Lincoln, Neb., using gear from Calix.

Windstream, they said, will target multiple MDUs in the market with Calix’s AXOS G.fast nodes and GigaFamily products in Lincoln. Windstream plans to extend the deployment of G.fast to deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps over copper there and other markets.

"In a growing community like Lincoln with a large number of college students and young professionals, MDUs are both an opportunity and a challenge for service providers looking to enable a robust subscriber experience," Art Nichols, Windstream’s vice president of network architecture and technology, said in a statement.

Though many telcos are deploying fiber-to-the-premises, G.fast represents an emerging standard that can help them extend the life of DSL networks and position them to deliver 1-Gig speeds in order to compete with cable’s widespread DOCSIS platforms.

Last year, U.K. telecom BT said it was delivering up to 330 Mbps in a G.fast trial.

The ITU awardedfinal approval to the G.fast standard in December 2014.