Harmonic has announced that DNA Finland, the second largest mobile and fixed broadband operator serving the Finnish market, is expanding multi-gigabit services into lower-density multi-dwelling units (MDUs) with Harmonic’s SeaStar™ optical node.
The SeaStar node enables DNA Finland to deliver fiber-grade connectivity to brownfield MDU environments that have traditionally been challenging to serve due to permitting complexities and high rewiring costs. By leveraging Harmonic’s compact, scalable optical node, DNA Finland can offer competitive, fiber-grade broadband services to the brownfield MDU market, significantly expanding its addressable market beyond the current subscriber base.
“Previously, deploying a dedicated node for every MDU with only a handful of subscribers was cost-prohibitive, making lower-density MDU opportunities economically unviable for us,” said Markus Lehtiniemi, access networks design team lead at DNA Finland. “Harmonic’s game changing SeaStar node gives us a cost-effective solution to extend high-speed broadband services into the lower-density MDU market we previously could not economically serve. This strengthens our competitive position, establishes a clear market advantage and accelerates business growth.”
Harmonic’s powerful SeaStar optical node enables DNA Finland to extend multi-gigabit connectivity through a centralized fiber forward architecture that leverages existing in-building coax wiring. The SeaStar node supports up to 16 low-cost optical mini nodes installed at the MDUs via point-to-point fiber connections, which then connect directly to the MDU’s existing coax cabling. This helps the operator to reduce infrastructure requirements and lower operational costs while extending reliable high-speed broadband services to more MDUs.
Additionally, the SeaStar node connects seamlessly with Harmonic’s Central AI-powered network intelligence and operations service providing DNA Finland with powerful network analytics for real-time network visibility. This enables the proactive resolution of network impairment issues to ensure reliable, consistent broadband service availability.
“DNA Finland’s deployment of our SeaStar optical node sets a blueprint for operators looking to overcome the economics of traditional network expansion, enabling them to extend high-quality broadband into MDUs that were previously cost-prohibitive,” said Stefan Meier, vice president of broadband sales, Europe at Harmonic. “By combining a compact footprint with scalable performance and operational efficiency, SeaStar allows service providers to unlock new revenue opportunities, improve deployment flexibility and accelerate time to market of new services while maintaining a superior subscriber experience.”
Harmonic’s market-leading cOS platform powers next-gen broadband services through nearly 46 million CPE devices worldwide for leading operators in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
