Vianet Introduces XGS-PON Technology, Offering up to 2 Gbps Symmetrical Internet Speeds

Vianet, a popular internet service provider in Nepal, has recently announced a new internet package called XGS Extreme. This package promises to deliver up to 2Gbps internet speed for both download and upload.

The XGS Extreme package is made possible by an upgrade in the PON (passive optical network) standard from GPON to XGS-PON. The XGS-PON standard provides symmetric shared internet access rates of up to 10Gbps, compared to GPON’s data rates of up to 2.4Gbps downstream and 1.25Gbps upstream.

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XGS Extreme Plans: Internet Plans and Pricing

Vianet offers the XGS Extreme package in two different plans, namely XGS Extreme Pro (1/1Gbps) and XGS Extreme Pro Plus (2/2Gbps), both of which include 3 IPTV services (ViaTV) and Wi-Fi 6 support.

These plans are available for subscription periods of 3 months and 12 months. The 3-month subscription for the XGS Extreme Pro (1/1Gbps) plan costs Rs. 18,500, while the XGS Extreme Pro Plus (2/2Gbps) plan costs Rs. 19,999. Both prices include a ViaTV cost of Rs. 1,200 but exclude VAT.

Similarly, the 12-month subscription cost for Vianet’s 1/1Gbps plan is Rs. 66,000, and for the 2/2Gbps plan, it is Rs. 71,988. These prices include a ViaTV cost of Rs. 3,600 but exclude VAT.

To enjoy these faster internet speeds, Vianet customers must upgrade their GPON-compatible ONU to an XGS-compatible ONU. Vianet is providing customers with a dual-band ZTE ZXHN F8648P ONU for an upgrade cost of Rs. 5,000 + VAT and a deposit of Rs. 5,000 for the device.

In addition, Vianet users will need to pay an additional Rs. 500 for the primary set-top box and Rs. 500 as a deposit. For secondary set-top boxes and more, Vianet charges an activation fee of Rs. 2,000 + VAT per set-top box and a deposit of Rs. 500.

It’s essential to note that for customers to experience 1Gbps or 2Gbps internet speeds, their devices must also support these speeds.

Therefore, customers must ensure that their ethernet cables, ethernet ports, routers, switches, and computers/laptops are compatible with their desired internet speed.

Subscription Price Table

Note: The above prices are without VAT.

Additional Charges

Note: The above prices are without VAT.

ViaTV Charges

Note: The above prices are without VAT.

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Availability of XGS Extreme

During the initial launch phase, the XGS-Extreme products are currently available in select areas within the valley, including Lazimpat, Panipokhari, Maharajgunj, Chandol, Gairidhara, and Samakhusi in Kathmandu, as well as Jawalakhel, Ekantakuna, Manbhawan, Kumaripati, Mahalaxmisthan, Pulchowk, Kupondole, Jhanmsikhel, and Dhobighat in Lalitpur.

However, Vianet has plans to expand its coverage throughout the valley, so it is recommended to contact Vianet directly for further inquiries.

What are PON, GPON, and XGS-PON?

ISPs in Nepal today use fiber optic technology to provide internet access to users, replacing copper-based connections like ADSL. The network that uses fiber optic cables is known as FTTH, short for fiber-to-the-home.

To deliver internet access to end-users in an FTTH network, a point-to-multipoint fiber-optic communication system is used, called the passive optical network (PON).

Unlike the active optical network (AON), which uses electrically powered devices, PON uses unpowered, passive optical splitters to distribute the signal across the endpoints.

There are different PON standards. The most popular is the GPON, or Gigabit-capable PON, which can deliver data rates of up to 2.5Gbps down and up to 1.25Gbps up. This is the current PON standard that Vianet is using.

In response to the increased demand for higher bandwidth, a new, upgraded version of GPON, XG-PON, was introduced by ITU-T, the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector.

The XG-PON (10G-PON), where the initial letter “X” represents the number 10, has a downstream capacity of 10Gbps and an upstream capacity of 2.5Gbps, which is asymmetric.

The XGS-PON is an improved 10G-PON standard that can provide 10/10Gbps symmetric bandwidth. Thus, after “XG,” the letter “S,” which stands for symmetrical, was added.