ZTE ZXA10 C650 OLT: An All-Round Performer for Medium-Capacity Optical Access, Supporting a Smooth Evolution from 10 Gigabit to 50G

ZTE ZXA10 C650 OLT: An All-Round Performer for Medium-Capacity Optical Access, Supporting a Smooth Evolution from 10 Gigabit to 50G

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The ZTE ZXA10 C650 OLT, as a core medium-capacity optical access device under the TITAN platform, perfectly balances "performance, cost, and scalability" with its fully distributed architecture, multi-generation PON technology compatibility, and fixed-mobile convergence capabilities, making it the preferred solution for FTTH (Fiber to the Home), FTTB (Fiber to the Building), and 5G fronthaul scenarios.

Product Positioning: A Precise Game Changer in the Mid-Capacity Market

The ZTE C650 is not a flagship model pursuing "ultimate large capacity," but rather an "all-rounder" focusing on mid-to-large capacity scenarios such as large-scale communities, enterprise parks, and county-level operators. Its 6U 19-inch standard chassis design supports 7 line card slots per frame, providing up to 112 GPON/10G PON ports. This not only meets the access needs of thousands to tens of thousands of users but also avoids the space waste and cost redundancy of large-size equipment, achieving "on-demand deployment and flexible expansion."

More importantly, the C650 is not an isolated "transitional device"—built on the ZTE TITAN platform, it inherently possesses the genes of "forward compatibility and backward evolution": it supports the current mainstream GPON/10G PON technologies and can be smoothly upgraded to 50G PON. A single device can cover three generations of access technologies from "10G to 50G," extending the device lifecycle by more than 2 times and significantly reducing the repeated investment costs for operators.

Core Advantages: Four Capabilities to Solidify Competitiveness

1. Fully Distributed Architecture: "Dual Guarantee" of Stability and Flexibility
The C650 adopts a high-end router-level fully distributed architecture, achieving "separation of control plane and forwarding plane." The four forwarding planes can share the load, and even if a single forwarding plane fails, it will not affect the overall service operation. This design delivers two core values: High Reliability: Supports ISSU (Uninterrupted Service Upgrade) and NSR (Non-Disruptive Routing), ensuring "zero service interruption" during firmware upgrades and board switching. It perfectly adapts to the fronthaul requirements of 5G uRLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication), achieving microsecond-level latency control.

Easy Scalability: The built-in NP (Network Processor) chip allows for rapid upgrades to improve forwarding performance without replacing the entire device, easily meeting bandwidth growth demands.

2. Three-Generation PON Technology Compatibility: One-Time Deployment, Long-Term Adaptability

As a product embodying ZTE's "Multi-Generation PON Shared Platform" concept, the C650's biggest highlight lies in its seamless compatibility with GPON, 10G PON (XGPON/XGS-PON), and future 50G PON, even supporting "Combo PON" hybrid deployment:

Zero Impact on Existing Services: The optical module has a built-in WDM1r component, eliminating the need to modify existing optical cables. GPON ONUs or 10G PON ONUs can be deployed on the same port as needed. For example, when some high-end users in a community upgrade to 10 Gigabit broadband, the GPON services of ordinary users remain unaffected.

50G Forward-Looking Deployment: Based on the TITAN platform's hardware reservations, future upgrades to 50G PON can be achieved simply by replacing the line card, without replacing the chassis or power supply. A single device achieves a "10G-50G" generational evolution, avoiding the cost waste of "rebuilding" the network.

3. Fixed-Mobile Convergence: A "Unified Foundation" for 5G and Broadband

With the increasing density of 5G base stations, the demand for OLTs as core nodes in "5G fronthaul/midhaul" is becoming increasingly urgent. The C650 achieves "integrated fixed-mobile service support" through two major capabilities:  Low-latency fronthaul: Supports TDM-like forwarding channels with latency control down to the microsecond level, meeting the ultra-low latency requirements of 5G uRLLC services (such as industrial control and telemedicine), and can be directly used as a fronthaul access device for 5G base stations; Multi-service convergence: In addition to traditional broadband, IPTV, and voice services, it also supports VPN, mobile backhaul, and IoT device access. For example, enterprise parks can use the C650 to simultaneously support "employee broadband + video conferencing + security monitoring + 5G small cell backhaul," simplifying network architecture and reducing operational complexity.

4. Intelligent O&M and Cost Optimization: Making Management "More Worry-Free"

For operators and enterprises, "easy-to-use equipment" is just as important as "worry-free O&M." The C650 has undergone multiple optimizations in this regard: Single-board compatibility reduces costs:** The core line card is fully compatible with ZTE's classic C600 OLT, eliminating the need for separate spare parts and reducing inventory pressure; O&M personnel can operate the device without retraining, reducing labor costs. Smooth SDN Evolution: Supports Netconf/YANG protocols and Telemetry remote monitoring, allowing seamless integration with SDN controllers for "automated configuration and second-level fault location," improving O&M efficiency by over 40%. Green and Energy-Saving:** Utilizes a 5-in-1 integrated chip, reducing single-port power consumption by 31.8% compared to traditional equipment. Long-term operation can significantly reduce data center electricity costs, aligning with the trend of green data centers.


Applicable Scenarios: From Home Broadband to Full Coverage of Enterprise Parks

1. County and Township Broadband Access
For county-level operators or township telecommunications branches, the C650's medium-capacity characteristics are ideal: a single chassis can cover 3-5 administrative villages or 1-2 large communities, supporting hybrid GPON/10G PON deployment—ordinary households use GPON to provide 100M-1G bandwidth, while high-end users upgrade to 10G using 10G PON, eliminating the need to deploy multiple devices separately, significantly reducing data center space occupation and construction costs.

2. Enterprise and Industrial Parks
Enterprise parks have high requirements for "business diversity." The C650 can simultaneously carry "employee office broadband (GPON), production system dedicated lines (10G PON), and security monitoring (IoT access)" through a single Combo PON board. Combined with QoS priority scheduling, it ensures the stability and security of production data transmission. Furthermore, its supported VPN function enables encrypted interconnection between the campus and headquarters, meeting enterprise data privacy protection needs.

3. 5G Fronthaul and Smart Communities

In urban fringe areas or smart communities with high 5G base station density, the C650 can serve as a "comprehensive access node": on the one hand, it transmits 5G small cell data back via 10G PON; on the other hand, it provides 10 Gigabit broadband to community users, while simultaneously connecting IoT devices such as smart access control and high-definition surveillance, forming an integrated network foundation of "5G + Broadband + IoT," avoiding the complexity of deploying multiple devices simultaneously.

Technical Details: The "Hardcore Strength" Revealed in the Details

Port Density and Flexibility: A single line card supports 16 GPON/XG-PON/XGS-PON/Combo PON ports, or 24/48 GE P2P ports, which can be flexibly combined according to business needs, such as "2 10G PON cards + 1 GE P2P card", accommodating both broadband and leased line services;
Environmental Adaptability: Operating temperature range of -40℃ to +65℃, humidity 5%-95% (non-condensing), ensuring stable operation in both cold northern counties and humid southern industrial parks without the need for additional temperature control equipment;
Security Protection: Built-in ACL access control, Radius authentication, and SSH encrypted transmission, while also supporting PON port isolation and DDoS attack protection, forming a "full-link security barrier" from equipment to services;
Optical Power Adaptation: Supports a maximum range of 30km. Without repeater transmission, when deployed in remote areas, it reduces repeater equipment costs and easily covers the "last mile of fiber" from towns to villages.

Summary: A "Long-Term Choice" for Medium-Capacity Scenarios

The value of the ZTE C650 OLT lies not in "the ultimate leadership in a single parameter," but in "precise insight into needs"—it solves the core pain points of the medium-capacity market: it must support current GPON/10G PON services while avoiding the need for "complete overhaul" in future upgrades; it must meet the multi-service requirements of fixed-mobile convergence while controlling costs and operational complexity.

If you'd like to learn about specific configuration options for the C650 (such as line card selection and port planning), 50G upgrade paths, or real-world deployment examples, feel free to leave a message to discuss and explore efficient ways to build optical access networks!

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