18 September 2023
Openreach is preparing to launch a new high-speed Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) v2.0 product for businesses and UK ISPs in the future – estimated for early 2025-2026, which will introduce various improvements and new data speed profiles..png?lu=811)
The EAD product provides point-to-point data connectivity between sites. The service can be used to build and extend customer networks, develop new infrastructure, and meet network backhaul requirements up to 10Gbps.
The new EAD 2.0 product is expected to support new intermediary speed tiers – all supporting the common Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3) for a dedicated and uncontended leased line, as well as the ability to remotely upgrade bandwidths.
Rather than adopting an active device that uses power, EAD 2.0 may adopt a passive demarcation device with an inbuilt reflector that Openreach can test. Port costs, as well as space and power costs, should also be cut because ISPs won’t need to house headend kit in their Access Locate (PoP) space. Instead, a new multi-fibre Cablelink service will enable providers and their Ethernet switches to connect multiple EAD 2.0 services to a single provider’s port over VLAN.
Greater resilience is also expected because they’ll be allowing an end user site to be connected normally to its second nearest OHP for route diversity.
