Singtel trialed a live 50 Gb/s symmetrical passive optical network (XGS-PON) in Singapore.

The fiber broadband pilot, claimed to be a first for the island nation, was touted as a driver for extended reality (XR), as well as cloud gaming and AI-enabled smart functions for commercial and residential-based users. Singtel expect these use cases to flourish within the next three to five years.

The Singaporean operator added the trial will assess the performance requirements and network capabilities necessary to support data-intensive, multidevice environments driven by AI technologies, with CEO Ng Tian Chong claiming "this next evolution in fiber broadband connectivity helps ensure that homes and businesses can continue to support increasingly immersive and AI-enabled digital experiences."

The 50G XGS-PON trial follows a quantum-safe network launched by the firm in October, integrating quantum key distribution (QKD) with post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

Similarly, Nokia unveiled a 50G PON solution the same month designed to ensure quantum-safe measures in passive optical networks, while Orange deployed a 50G PON fiber trial in France in the unusual testing ground of a video game tournament.