1 June 2017, Cologne/Germany – ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile and Fixed Internet, and NetCologne GmbH, a leading regional network operator in the great Cologne-Bonn area, today jointly announced the G.fast@212MHz profile ultra-broadband solution at Germany’s largest broadband exhibition Angacom in Cologne (30. May–1. June 2017). In the world’s first demonstration of G.fast@212MHz being tested over a real network, ZTE and NetCologne showcased the access rate profile of G.fast@212MHz reaching more than 1.8Gbps (the download rate is over 1.6 Gbps and the upload rate is about 0.2 Gbps). ZTE’s G.fast solution will enable NetCologne’s fibre-to-the-building (FttB) -access network to enter the Gigabit era.

NetCologne is committed to providing the city of Cologne and associated regions with reliable and future-proofed telecom services. It has its own four high-performance data centres and its service portfolio ranges from voice and data services to the distribution of TV services, for both residential and business users, as well as leading business ICT solutions.

“Being the world’s second biggest broadband technology provider, we are pushing the G.fast technology beyond its previous boundaries,” explains Sun Jie, managing director of ZTE Deutschland GmbH. “We are committed to supporting our partner NetCologne to migrate to gigabit internet services with cutting edge G.fast technologies. The demonstration of G.fast@212MHz solution at Angacom 2017 is another important milestone for both sides and a proof of the good cooperation we have.” Timo von Lepel, managing director of NetCologne explains: “The demand for ultrafast services is constantly growing and we intend to provide NetCologne customers with the best network infrastructure in Germany. With ZTE as a partner we are on the very forefront of G.fast technology and highspeed research.”

NetCologne and ZTE signed the agreement for this strategic partnership in February 2017. The terms of the agreement say that ZTE will provide NetCologne with advanced network equipment including G.fast distribution point units (DPUs) and terminals. The multiports G.fast DPU supports G.fast@212MHz and flexible uplink selection among passive optical network /point to point/digital subscriber line (PON/P2P/DSL) technologies. It also supports multiple power supply models, which means it can self-adapt to multiple scenarios. ZTE will help NetCologne with the further development from its existing very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) network to a G.fast network. With this solution, NetCologne can provide access of almost 2Gbps based on its existing copper source without requiring fibre reconstruction in the residential network. It will save the original investment and keep NetCologne competitive in the market.

ZTE keeps innovating on fibre/copper technology. ZTE's fibre/copper integrated products have seen more than 300 million lines deployed worldwide. Its G.fast offerings has been put into commercial use in Japan, Austria, and been tested or trialled by over 20 operators all over the world.