Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
National network operator Openreach has informed ISPreview that their long planned pilot of a 100Gbps capable Cablelink (Ethernet) solution is now scheduled to start around May 2027. The new product will, among other things, be used by ISPs to support the rollout of their 8.5Gbps speed full fibre (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband products for UK homes.
Cablelink products are traditionally what Openreach are using to provide data capacity for their full fibre and other connections (i.e. the connection between their fibre headend and an internet provider’s own equipment). But at present the fastest links available only go up to 10Gbps, which will start to become a bit tedious now that Openreach are beginning to expand the reach of their 8.5Gbps speed FTTP broadband pilot.
Suffice to say that using multiple 10G Cablelinks to supply that service with capacity isn’t the most efficient approach, especially for busy areas. The solution, as we first revealed back in March 2026 (here), is for Openreach to introduce a new 100G Cablelink Service Connect (CSC) product. But until now we didn’t have a strong idea of when the first trials of this would actually begin.