The ITU-T Recommendation for very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line 2 (VDSL2) will allow operators to compete with cable and satellite providers by offering services such as high definition TV (HDTV), video-on-demand, videoconferencing, high speed Internet access and advanced voice services like VoIP, over a standard copper telephone cable.

The new VDSL2 standard delivers up to 100 Mbps both up and downstream, a ten-fold increase over "plain vanilla" ADSL. By doing so, it provides for so-called ‘fibre-extension’, bringing fibre-like bandwidth to premises not directly connected to the fibre optic segment of a telecoms company’s network.

As well as addressing fast-growing consumer demand for high-speed multimedia services, VDSL2 offers carriers a solution which is interoperable with the DSL equipment many already have in place, expediting migration of customers to new VDSL2-based products. In addition, VDSL2 will work both legacy ATM networks and next generation IP-based networks.

Yoichi Maeda, chairman of the ITU Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group responsible for the work, said: "We have leveraged the strengths of ADSL, ADSL2+, and VDSL to achieve the very high performance levels you will see with VDSL2. This new standard is set to become an extremely important feature of the telecommunications landscape, and is a landmark achievement for our members, many of whom are relying on this Recommendation to take their businesses to the next level."

VDSL2 is seen by many operators as the ideal accompaniment to a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) rollout, where fibre optic lines are used to link large premises like office or apartment blocks to the PSTN, and ordinary copper cables used within the building to connect tenants or residents to high-speed services.

Ready for immediate deployment, the new VDSL2 Recommendation (ITU-T G.993.2), will continue to foster competitive global markets for high-speed equipment, assuring a level playing field for developers and vendors.

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