Netia and Nokia deploy first virtualized Distributed Access Architecture cable network in Europe

• Nokia's Unified Cable Access Solution enables Netia to significantly boost cable network capacity needed to bring Gigabit and IPTV services to Poland

October 23, 2018

Espoo, Finland -  Nokia today announced that Netia, one of the largest regional telecommunication operators in Poland, will deploy its Unified Cable Access solution to significantly increase the network capacity needed to support surging bandwidth demands. Initially targeting the cities of Warsaw and Krakow, the deployment will create Europe's first fully virtualized Distributed Access Architecture (vDAA) cable network and enable Netia to deliver enhanced ultra-broadband services to residential and business customers and quickly expand its network into new service areas.

Annual data traffic growth of 40-60%¹ is placing enormous pressure on cable operators' Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) networks globally. To meet this growing demand, cable operators are turning to software-driven, all-IP Distributed Access Architectures (DAA), which increase the capacity of existing networks, reduce operating costs and improve signal quality. Estimated to be a $1.6 billion market by 2022¹, DAA architectures are becoming essential for cable operators looking to rapidly deploy new services and cost-effectively upgrade their networks.

Nokia's Unified Cable Access solution is based on a virtualized Distributed Access Architecture (vDAA) which delivers greater space and power savings, as well as superior architectural flexibility, compared to traditional DAAs. Nokia's Unified Cable Access solution will enable Netia to establish a fully distributed and virtualized access architecture that can support new, competitive Gigabit and IPTV services over great distances. By moving the cable access layer functions in its headend and hub sites to the access nodes that sit closer to customers, Netia can eliminate some of its legacy cable-specific hardware and significantly extend its reach into new communities. It also can increase the performance needed to ensure a better internet experience for subscribers. 

Netia will begin deploying Nokia's Unified Cable Access solution, including the Gainspeed Access Controller and Gainspeed Access Nodes, into its network in Q4 2018. Once fully deployed, Netia will be able to effectively replace analog optical transmission with 10Gbps Ethernet, establishing an all-IP architecture capable of backhauling and transmitting digitized video over long distances. This will help reduce the space and power costs in the hub while significantly increasing the network's capacity, reach and signal quality, thus improving ultra-broadband services for its customers.