Zhone Technologies has introduced the Zhone network interface device (zNID) 9108 Multiple Dwelling Unit Optical Network Terminal (MDU ONT). Available in both outdoor Gigabit Active Ethernet (ActiveE) and Gigabit Passive Optical Networking (GPON) versions, this latest addition to the zNID portfolio delivers best-in-class support for even the most demanding FTTx applications.

"Zhone's MXK, our intelligent terabit access concentrator, is a cost efficient, high performance solution known for delivering sophisticated fiber-based triple-play services to large numbers of subscribers," said Brian Caskey, chief marketing officer, Zhone. "Using Zhone's zNID ONTs such as the new 9108 MDU unit, service providers can extend network intelligence from the platform at the core directly to the subscriber location and enable high-bandwidth triple play services."

All zNID 9108 ONTs are environmentally hardened. The weather proof enclosure can be installed in two stages for carriers that want to terminate the fiber before installing the active components. The zNID 9108 ONT also includes multiple features and capabilities including:

GPON or Gigabit Ethernet Uplink Eight Voice Ports Eight Gigabit Ethernet Ports Power over Ethernet (PoE) support on all eight Gigabit Ethernet ports One supplementary Gigabit Ethernet Accessory Port with PoE 1 Gbps Throughput Bridging or Routing VoIP service capabilities with CLASS features Automatic software upgrades and configuration backups using Zhone EZ Touch Provisioning

In addition, both of the 9108 models are based on the same wire-speed router architecture used in Zhone's extensive 42xx zNID product line, providing best-in-class performance regardless of packet size. The GPON version joins the Zhone family of zNID GPON Outdoor ONTs and the ActiveE version joins the zNID Active Ethernet Outdoor ONT family. All models are fully interoperable with a broad array of softswitches and also provide support for legacy Time Division Multiplexer (TDM) architectures when combined with Zhone's Packet Voice Gateway. This gives service providers an elegant migration path from legacy to softswitch architectures without the need to replace ONTs.

"Although zNID-9108 is ideal for MDU triple-play applications, it can also be used for several revenue-generating value-add applications including video surveillance," continued Caskey. "With this new MDU solution, we are ensuring that customers are not limited in either the type of services they can deliver or the reach of those services."

Both versions of the 9108 MDU ONT provide eight voice ports and eight 10/100/1000bT local area network (LAN) ports, plus a ninth 10/100/1000bT LAN port for connecting an auxiliary device such as a Wi-Fi access point or video camera.