How Two Providers Successfully Test Launched 50G-PON To Transform Subscriber Experiences

A doctor utilizing 50G-PON technology on a laptop for a telemedicine call with a patient

The future of broadband isn’t just about speed—it’s about new experiences. Subscriber expectations are evolving from immersive gaming and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) to real-time telehealth and AI-enabled applications. Broadband experience providers (BXPs) that differentiate through experiences and can deliver exciting and powerful new services at scale will succeed in this new era.

50G-PON, the latest advancement in passive optical network (PON) technology, provides next-generation fiber technology with the capacity and capabilities to support these innovations. This new fiber standard is likely to evolve over the coming years, representing a smart investment for BXPs.

But what does a real-world 50G-PON deployment look like?

Successful BXP Deployments of 50G-PON

Calix is working with innovative BXPs to implement 50G-PON strategies. Brightspeed and ALLO Fiber are two pioneering BXPs that have successfully demonstrated the seamless integration of 50G-PON technology into existing networks, unlocking next-generation experiences.

Brightspeed successfully tested GPON, XGS-PON, and 50G-PON over decades-old fiber without disrupting existing workflows or requiring major network upgrades. By managing everything on the Calix Broadband Platform and orchestrating services via Calix Cloud®, Brightspeed demonstrated how 50G-PON can be seamlessly integrated into existing fiber infrastructure and modern optical distribution networks (ODNs)—delivering higher speeds and lower latency while maintaining operational simplicity.

ALLO, another BXP on the Calix Broadband Platform, conducted a field trial by deploying 50G-PON from a central office (CO) to a business location within their service area, utilizing their production fiber network. ALLO successfully showed how 50G-PON can easily overlay existing XGS-PON infrastructure, making 50G deployment as simple as swapping out or installing an optical network terminal (ONT).

50G-PON Is the Foundation for Delivering Experiences

These examples highlight why 50G-PON is not just about increasing capacity; it is also a game-changer for service innovation and operational efficiency. BXPs don’t need to support separate Ethernet networks that add cost and complexity to deliver business services. Instead, by deploying 50G-PON on the Calix Broadband Platform, BXPs can converge services onto a single fiber network, streamlining operations and unlocking new revenue opportunities.

Breakthroughs such as 50G-PON, PON, and network slicing represent a generational opportunity for the broadband industry. BXPs aim to support enterprise services for businesses, as well as higher bandwidth-intensive residential services—including telehealth, streaming, gaming, and AR/VR experiences—all delivered over the same reliable network. 50G-PON allows BXPs to deliver these experiences and services at scale.

By embracing this next-generation technology on the Calix Broadband Platform, BXPs can differentiate, expand into lucrative new markets, and meet the evolving needs of their subscribers.

Watch this video to see how Brightspeed is easily deploying 50G-PON next-generation services with Calix.

By Tom Schroer

Area Vice President, Broadband Platform Marketing, Calix

Tom Schroer is the area vice president, access systems, network engineer, and services marketing at Calix. Tom leads a team evangelizing a wide array of professional, managed, network, and access systems. Prior to Calix, Tom gained extensive experience in service provider planning, engineering, operations, and marketing for network and service assurance and core and access solutions.