As we celebrate Gimme Fiber Day on November 4, it’s a perfect opportunity to look back at the remarkable development of fiber broadband technology and reflect on its future. This day commemorates the birthday of Sir Charles Kuen Kao, the Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics 2009, known as the “father of fiber optics.”
Genexis has been in the industry for over two decades. We have witnessed firsthand and have been actively contributing to the incredible evolution of fiber technology. Today, this technology has transformed into the backbone of our digital world, and the journey continues. I want to share some key milestones in fiber deployment, offer insights into Genexis’ role in these developments, and give a glimpse of what lies ahead.
The Early Days: Point-to-Point (PtP) technology
When Genexis started, we were a small, innovative company focusing on Point-to-Point (PtP) technology, which was the foundation of our entire product portfolio at the time. We were particularly active in regions like the Netherlands and the Nordics, where PtP was the technology of choice for many operators.
As fiber technology grew, so did the industry’s need for more scalable solutions, and that’s where Passive Optical Networks (PON) began to make their mark. Initially, there was skepticism—some within the industry believed PtP was superior and that PON would never dominate the market. Fast-forward to today and PON has become the global standard for fiber deployments.
The Shift to PON and Genexis’ Role
Although PON has taken over the mainstream fiber market, PtP technology still plays a critical role in certain areas. One example is Germany, where operators face challenges transitioning to XGS-PON due to the substantial investments required for new infrastructure and labor. For these operators, we’ve developed custom-made solutions that allow for incremental upgrades, offering speeds higher than 1G without the need for a full-scale switch to PON.
One of the products we’re particularly proud of is FiberTwist, which allows operators maximum flexibility to upgrade easily without needing extensive infrastructure changes. With FiberTwist, we’ve simplified the installation process—there’s no need for extensive truck rolls or complex configurations. It’s just a twist, and you’re done. This innovation has resonated not only in Europe but also in markets like the United States, where the simplicity and the do-it-yourself mechanism of FiberTwist offer clear advantages.
Looking towards future-proof solutions
At Genexis, we help our customers prepare their networks for the future with a diverse portfolio of solutions that cater to various market needs and deployment scenarios. Our products range from 1G to 2.5G and 10G fiber solutions, offering flexibility for operators who need to upgrade their networks without overhauling their infrastructure entirely. This approach provides a stepwise migration to the full potential of XGS-PON and is appreciated by many operators.
As a dedicated FTTH home equipment provider, we have the broadest in-home portfolio in the market, with three product lines aimed at different installation scenarios. Those product lines have about 40 (O)NT models that cover all mainstream fiber technologies (PtP, 10G PtP, GPON, XGS-PON), suit 1-port vs. multi-port deployments, and offer extra options like CATV and Voice.
Switching off copper and more open-access networks
Looking forward, one of the most significant trends is copper switch-off, which aligns with sustainability goals and the drive for more efficient networks. Fiber networks can lead to energy savings of up to 60-70% compared to copper-based alternatives, making them a crucial part of operators’ net-zero strategies.
We also see open-access networks (OAN) gaining traction across Europe, with an increasing number of countries moving toward mandating them by law. As part of the FTTH Council working group, I’m actively involved in these discussions, and it’s exciting to see how regulatory frameworks are evolving to support OAN.
We manage challenges: interoperability and security
As more operators embrace PON, new challenges emerge, particularly around interoperability and security. Many operators either consolidate or acquire networks and often end up with multiple and mixed Optical Line Terminal (OLT) brands, creating significant interoperability issues. At Genexis, we work on OLT-agnostic solutions to ensure smooth operations across different vendors. Our award-winning autosensing software, TrueTalkTM, allows seamless connectivity across multiple OLTs, automatically adjusting ONTs to different network settings.
Security is another area where Genexis is stepping up. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, we’ve developed a premium security package with state-of-the-art protection. While our products come with solid security features by default, this package offers an extra layer of protection for operators who require the best possible defense against cyberattacks.
As we celebrate Gimme Fiber Day, we appreciate how far fiber technology has come. Fiber broadband is no longer just a technological innovation—it’s the foundation of our digital future. At Genexis, we’ve been part of this journey from the start and remain committed to driving innovation in fiber technology for the future.
