Add Hitachi Telecom USA to the list of equipment vendors selling gigabit passive optical networking (GPON) broadband access equipment.

Generally available in the first quarter of 2006, the new AMN1220 family of GPON products from Hitachi’s American division conforms to the ITU’s G.984 standard, supporting bandwidth speeds of 2.4 Gb/s downstream and 1.2 Gb/s upstream, with optional support for RF video. However, in addition to adherence to FSAN’s GEM specifications, the new gear gives carriers the option to include TDM-based lines such as T-1 to serve business customers.

“We believe that’s distinctive,” said David Foote, Hitachi Telecom USA’s chief technology officer.

The new product line was created using Hitachi’s own microchips, a choice the company made to enter the market quicker rather than wait several months for third-party “merchant” chips to become available. The line’s first release includes an optical line terminal for the central office and two different customer-located optical network terminals: one for single family residences or individual businesses, and a modular ONT for multitenant and multidwelling units.

Alcatel announced its own GEM- and G.984- based GPON gear in May, using its own chips, and announced its first customer for that gear in August.

Hitachi plans to name its first customer for the new GPON gear, “a multi-city [competitive local exchange carrier],” sometime soon.