Millicom-Harmonic to Accelerate Fiber Development in LATAM

Luxembourg mobile operator, Millicom|TIGO, and US Virtualized Broadband and Video Provider, Harmonic, launched XGS-PON fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to extend the cOS broadband platform. This initiative aims to deliver high-speed broadband services to nine countries in Latin America.

Harmonic's hybrid fiber and Ripple cable nodes, powered by the Jetty hardened switch and Fin SFP+ OLT modules, allow Millicom to upgrade existing nodes to deploy FTTH while continuing to offer DOCSIS services. Leveraging advanced telemetry enabled by Harmonic's cOS Central's real-time network analysis, Millicom gains access to new insights and actionable recommendations for optimal system performance.

Harmonic's cOS virtualized core, winner of the Technical Emmy Award for Industry-Changing Virtualized Broadband Technology, delivers next-generation broadband services to more than 26 million homes from 108 service providers around the world, including leading operators in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

"Adding fiber services with Harmonic's fiber solution allows us to ensure faster, more reliable broadband experiences that delight our residential subscribers while giving us the flexibility to offer ultrafast fiber broadband for business accounts," said Fabio Mando, Chief Technology Officer, Millicom. "With Harmonic's platform, we simplify the management of fiber and cable networks, increase the speeds available to our customers and accelerate time to market for broadband services."

Millicom's LATAM subsidiary, TIGO, provides fixed and mobile telecommunications services to more than 45 million customers throughout Latin America. This encompasses more than 13 million households connected to the network, according to a company summary.  These operations are supported by a workforce of nearly 19,000 employees. 

"With Harmonic's cOS platform and hybrid nodes, Millicom can cost-effectively accelerate the deployment of new high-speed fiber broadband in Latin America and increase access to its market-leading Internet options," said Nimrod Ben-Natan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Harmonic. "We are excited to expand our partnership with Millicom and continue to support their business growth," he added.