Harmonic unveils AI tools for fibre network operations

Harmonic will unveil new fibre network products and software focused on network operations, remote deployments and back-office integration.

The lineup includes an artificial intelligence-based network intelligence platform, remote optical line terminal equipment for rural and low-density areas, and a low-code integration platform for operators managing multi-vendor systems.

The announcement reflects a broader push by broadband suppliers to help fibre operators cut operational complexity as networks expand beyond densely populated areas. Rural build-outs often come with tighter economics, while operators also face pressure to reduce service faults and simplify links between network and business systems.

One of the main additions is a network operations intelligence system designed to help providers shift from reactive maintenance to earlier identification of performance issues. Harmonic said the platform uses data-driven analysis to support service assurance and network operations.

Another focus is remote deployment. Harmonic introduced the Pearl-1XL R-OLT module, which combines eight Combo PON ports covering GPON and XGS and is housed in an outdoor node for outside plant environments.

The product is aimed at infrastructure constraints that commonly affect remote fibre roll-outs, including limited power availability and uplink reliability. Harmonic said the system is intended to lower the cost of extending service into harder-to-reach areas compared with traditional outdoor cabinets.

Harmonic also outlined a second remote access product, the Jetty-3 hardened remote node switch module. The company said it can reduce fibre utilisation by up to 12 times and supports 12 25G downlinks and two 100G uplinks, alongside long-range coherent optics.

The product is intended to help operators stretch existing infrastructure rather than add new fibre runs. For providers targeting smaller communities or dispersed customers, that can be a key factor in whether expansion is financially viable.

Back-office systems

Harmonic also introduced a back-office integration platform aimed at connecting operational and management systems across mixed-vendor environments. The platform can be deployed alongside its fibre products or used as a standalone system.

Low-code software has become a common approach for telecoms operators seeking to connect order management, activation, assurance and orchestration systems without large custom development projects. Harmonic said its platform is designed to shorten deployment times, reduce order fallout and give operators a single operational view.

In addition, the company announced two products in its Fin SFP-based OLT family, Fin-Lite and Fin-2, both managed by the cOS virtualised core. Harmonic said Fin-Lite is geared toward GPON deployments, while Fin-2 adds Combo PON support for GPON and XGS-PON on the same port.

The products are part of a pay-as-you-grow model intended to support migration to 50G PON. The wider cOS platform is already used across nearly 41 million customer premises equipment devices worldwide, according to Harmonic.

Yaniv Ben-Soussan, Senior Vice President of Cloud and Intelligence Platform at Harmonic, outlined the company's position on the new products.

"At Harmonic, our priority is to empower broadband service providers to deliver the best possible connectivity experience to every subscriber. Our exciting new solutions at this year's Fibre Connect bring AI-powered intelligence, resilient infrastructure and operational simplicity to fiber networks, enabling operators to scale efficiently, reduce complexity and evolve seamlessly," said Ben-Soussan.

The fibre broadband market has seen operator spending shift from headline network expansion to tools that make existing roll-outs easier to manage. In many markets, providers are balancing subscriber growth targets with the need to control field costs, automate operations and integrate systems acquired over years of network investment.

That helps explain why suppliers are placing more emphasis on software-led operations alongside access hardware. As fibre build-outs move into less dense territories, operators often need equipment that can operate in harsher environments as well as systems that reduce manual intervention.

Harmonic said its latest products are intended to address those issues across the network edge and the back office. The update spans access hardware, switching and software, with a particular emphasis on rural expansion and operational oversight.