en.Wedoany.com Reported - Bouygues Telecom has announced the completion of XGS-PON technology deployment across its entire FTTH network in France, becoming the first French operator to achieve nationwide coverage with this architecture, offering symmetrical speeds of up to 8 Gbit/s.
The operator stated that this evolution opens the door to symmetrical speeds of up to 8 Gbit/s for both residential and business users. XGS-PON evolves based on existing fiber infrastructure without requiring replacement of fiber already installed in homes, with major changes occurring in the operator's network equipment and customer premises equipment.
XGS-PON gradually replaces GPON, which has been widely used since the large-scale fiber deployment in France, with its main advantage being symmetrical speeds. While previous generations prioritized download performance, this architecture also significantly improves data upload performance, particularly benefiting applications that have become prevalent in recent years, such as cloud backup, remote work, video conferencing, content creation, large file sharing, or video streaming.
To enjoy the highest performance, users need specific equipment, such as the Bbox WiFi 7 in Bouygues Telecom's premium packages. Business packages offer symmetrical speeds ranging from 2 Gbit/s to 8 Gbit/s depending on the plan. The operator emphasized improved network stability and reduced latency during peak usage hours.
SFR began introducing XGS-PON in parts of its network in 2022, while Orange aims to achieve full coverage by the end of 2026. Free, on the other hand, uses 10G-EPON technology, which it began deploying with the launch of the Freebox Delta in 2018 and has since been running long-term across its entire fiber network.
In operator laboratories and research centers, subsequent technologies are already being prepared, including 50G-PON and 100G-PON, targeting speeds far beyond current levels. For now, XGS-PON represents a significant new phase in the evolution of fixed ultra-high-speed broadband in France.
