Harmonic unveils AI fibre tools for European operators

Harmonic will showcase new fibre access products and an AI-based network operations system in London, targeting European broadband operators.

The lineup includes a network operations intelligence system, fibre expansion hardware, and software for multi-dwelling unit deployments. Harmonic will also present its Open ONT framework, designed to allow operators to choose customer premises equipment from multiple suppliers rather than tying deployments to a single vendor.

The announcement comes as telecoms groups across Europe continue expanding full-fibre networks while trying to contain installation costs and reduce engineer visits. As they push deeper into suburban and rural areas and connect more apartment buildings, operators are seeking greater automation to manage larger access networks.

Harmonic says its new network operations intelligence system is designed to shift broadband operations from reactive monitoring to proactive oversight. It is designed to work across different networks, equipment vendors, and software tools, providing operators with a single operational view.

Network Focus

The broader fibre portfolio on display is built around Harmonic’s cOS virtualised core platform and a range of access devices. The company highlighted Fin OLT, Ripple modular nodes, Wharf and Pier high-density OLT shelves for extending 10G fibre, and the Oyster low-power node.

The focus is on network scale and reach. The products are intended to support different deployment densities and speeds as operators adjust build plans to local demand and economics.

That is especially relevant in Europe’s fragmented broadband market, where operators often have to combine urban infill, greenfield roll-outs, and upgrades to existing access infrastructure. Multi-dwelling units remain a particular challenge because installation routes, in-building wiring, and landlord access can add cost and delay to fibre projects.

Open ONT is positioned as a response to another long-running issue in fibre roll-outs: dependence on a narrow group of customer device suppliers. By separating the access network from a single CPE path, operators may gain more flexibility in managing costs, procurement, and service models across different markets.

European Push

Harmonic has framed the launch around demand from European service providers for tools that can shorten deployment times and improve network uptime. It also links the products to efforts to cut truck rolls, the industry term for field engineer call-outs that can weigh on operating costs.

“As fiber deployments accelerate across Europe, service providers need immediate solutions to boost deployment velocity, reduce costs and enable data-driven, intelligent operational decision-making,” said Stefan Meier, Vice President of Broadband Sales, Europe, at Harmonic.

“Harmonic is at the forefront of fiber innovation, equipping operators with advanced solutions that keep pace with growing connectivity demands while enabling sustained network evolution,” Meier added.

According to Harmonic, its cOS platform is used by broadband operators worldwide on nearly 41 million CPE devices across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. That installed base offers some indication of the company’s reach in broadband access, even as competition remains intense across fibre software, optical line terminals, and home devices.

Suppliers to the fibre sector are under pressure to demonstrate that software and hardware can reduce operating costs while supporting higher speeds. For operators, the business case for full-fibre build-outs depends not only on subscriber growth, but also on the cost of activating, maintaining, and upgrading networks over time.

Against that backdrop, automation in fault management and performance monitoring has become a stronger selling point for vendors. Harmonic’s latest offering suggests it is trying to expand its role from access infrastructure into day-to-day network oversight, where operators increasingly want tools that work across mixed estates rather than in isolated product silos.

The latest products are designed to help operators build broadband networks that can scale over the long term while offering greater flexibility in deployment choices and supplier relationships.