Original article Total Telecom:Read More
Viewpoint
At this year’s Connected Germany, Dr. Frederic Ufer launched the conference with a loud and-clear message: We must shift our focus from simply building networks—to activating them. This idea permeated every session and underscores a new path forward for the broadband industry.
We have long measured success by evaluating “homes passed.” But the reality is this: Just building a network doesn’t guarantee demand or value—and it certainly doesn’t generate recurring monthly revenues for the network operator or ISP.
Instead, activation, quality of experience, and genuine customer proximity determine whether investments pay off and whether fiber truly becomes part of people’s everyday lives.
That set the stage for my session, and the main question I would ask: How do modern network architectures enable exactly this kind of activation—technically, operationally, and economically?
Three Major Challenges From Old Architectures and How They Block Activation
In many European markets, active point-to-point (PtP) technologies and historically grown structures still dominate. Yet they bring three major challenges:
- Unmanaged customer demarcation points
- High ongoing costs due to many (often smaller) active outdoor cabinets
- Complexity caused by multi-vendor environments and siloed BNG architectures
The problem: Such networks are difficult to automate—and even harder to translate into exceptional customer experiences.
The Shift Begins With XGS-PON: Less Complexity, More Activation
The operators we work with—in Germany and internationally—have made a clear decision: New regions, as well as existing active PtP networks, are built or migrated exclusively to XGS-PON.
Why? Because PON immediately removes barriers:
- Passive cabinets instead of costly active sites
- Higher customer density per aggregation point
- Controlled demarcation at the customer premises
- End-to-end service quality
- Lower susceptibility to faults
- Measurably lower OPEX
In short: PON creates a simplified network that can be cleanly controlled and scaled. And that is the prerequisite for any serious activation strategy.
The Next Step: Consolidation Onto a Unified Software Platform
While Germany is still heavily focused on the technology transition, operators in other regions have already reached the next level: The traditional BNG is replaced by a disaggregated, software-based platform.
This platform consolidates everything within a single software platform:
- Routing
- BNG functions
- Subscriber management
- Provisioning
- Local or centralized OLT management
The result:
- One end-to-end workflow
- Fewer systems, fewer errors
- Easier technician training
- Seamless upgrades, including future technologies like 50G-PON
Less infrastructure, more control. Less complexity, more activation.
Then Comes Robotics… Proof of Why Activation Matters Now
The keynote provided an example that brought everything together: The upcoming use of humanoid robotics requires millisecond-level latency—a technical requirement that neither DSL nor cable could ever meet.
The message was clear: Only activated fiber connections provide the foundation for AI, robotics, industry, healthcare, and everyday digital services.
If networks are built but not used, the entire economy loses.
Automation Is a Necessity, Not a “Nice-to-Have” (If You Want to Move From Reactivityto Proactivity)
In my session, I showed how operators are already working proactively today, rather than
waiting for fault reports.
With solutions such as Calix Operations Cloud, network operators can:
- Detect “dying” optics early
- Automatically monitor ports
- Analyze patterns
- Drastically reduce costly field technician deployments
- Prevent customer tickets before they occur
Activation does not happen at the point of sale. It happens in operations.
Conclusion: If You Want Activation, You Must Simplify
“Homes passed” is an important foundation, but “homes activated” is what truly matters. Activation is only possible with architecture that enables automation, efficiency, and experience.
The path forward leads through:
- XGS-PON
- Consolidation onto a software platform
- Automated operating models
- Clear customer experiences instead of a technology-first mindset
With XGS-PON and automation, networks are not just built—but used, experienced, and
deployed to create real value.
This viewpoint was provided by Udo Abt of Calix who were sponsors of Connected Germany 2025. You will also be able to meet Calix at Connected Britain 2026, find out more here.