New-Tech Magazine - Europe | January Digital edition

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approximately 200 times faster than speeds in the average residential broadband connection today. In providing fiber- like speeds, the copper-based technology could enable a two-hour HD movie to download in less than 10 seconds, or for 1,000 photos to be uploaded in less than two seconds. Deutsche Telekom’s network – which uses VDSL2 Vectoring as well as fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology – currently offers customers access speeds of up to 100 megabits-per- second (Mbps). In enabling Deutsche Telekom to make efficient use of its existing copper network infrastructure, the innovative XG-FAST technology could also enable it to deliver further on commitments to Germany’s national broadband targets for providing more bandwidth to more people. Key Facts: Technologies such as G.fast and XG-FAST use the last section of existing copper networks to deliver fiber-like speeds to homes and offices. XG-FAST is in the early stages of lab testing, but has exceeded expectations in trials with several customers so far. The XG-FAST trial with Deutsche Telekom demonstrated an aggregated bandwidth exceeding 11Gbps on two bonded pairs of Category 6 cable at 50 meters in length. Similar EU researchers have created an innovative toolbox in order to ensure the safety and continued security of European electricity networks, and to help facilitate a greater shift towards renewable energy sources The EU-funded UMBRELLA project has unveiled its key successes and deliverables during a one-day workshop in Brussels on 26 January 2016. This included the creation of a toolbox prototype for Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to guarantee secure grid operation in future electricity networks with a high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources (RES). The toolbox enables TSOs to act in a coordinated European target system where regional strategies converge to ensure the best possible use of the European electricity infrastructure. There is a growing contribution of less predictable and more variable RES, which is taking place alongside the gradual integration of national markets into one common

tests using standard drop cable illustrated the feasibility of XG-FAST for fiber-to-the-front door applications, achieving aggregate rates that exceed 8Gbps over 50m. All trials were performed using prototype equipment from Bell Labs under laboratory conditions. XG-FAST is also capable of delivering 1Gbps symmetrical services at distances of 70m enabling operators to deliver fiber-like speeds inside buildings using existing telephone lines, eliminating the need to install new cabling. This allows for faster installation times and less hassle for the end-user. Nokia’s fixed ultra-broadband access portfolio offers service providers a comprehensive mix of fiber and copper access technologies to suit the needs of any deployment. Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, CTO of Deutsche Telekom, said: “Working on this demonstration we can see the future possibilities of XG-FAST in maximizing existing assets. This will provide another technology option which could enable us to offer high-speed connectivity to our customers quickly and cost-effectively, and at the same time, move our fiber infrastructure closer to our customers.” European electrical energy market. Market mechanisms are increasingly not being able to cover certain aspects of system security, leading to high deviations between scheduled and physical flows in terms of time, direction and volume. As a consequence, meteorological forecasting errors may lead to unforeseen violations of operating limits and trigger cascading outages in stressed-system situations. This results in the need for more complex operational planning and transmission operation, taking the network closer to its operational limits. The UMBRELLA toolbox The UMBRELLA toolbox includes a deterministic and probabilistic optimisation framework for corrective actions to cope with simulated risks on different timescales and increasing system complexity. The overall aim of this is to reduce the total cost of uncertainty whilst also increasing system security and transmission capacity.

New toolbox to help boost and secure European electricity networks

14 l New-Tech Magazine Europe