according to industry sources in Taiwan.
The talks came after Alcatel-Lucent recently released its OMCI (ONT management and control interface) interoperability implementers' guide to network equipment makers, the sources noted.
Using the guidelines, ONT vendors will gain insights in Alcatel-Lucent's ONT OMCI, which they can then integrate in their own terminals to inter-operate with Alcatel-Lucent's, embedded base of GPON central office equipment (COE), explained Edgard Baeckelmans, senior director, Solutions and Marketing Wireline Competence Center at Alcatel-Lucent Asia Pacific.
A total of six Taiwan network equipment makers have rolled out ONT devices based on the OMCI guidelines and demonstrated the devices' interoperability with Alcatel-Lucent's GPON COE products at the recently concluded Broadband Taiwan 2009 trade fair, said sources in Taiwan, noting that the six vendors are Zyxel Communications, Gemtek Technology, Tecom, Sercomm, Delta Networks and Billion Electric.
Alcatel-Lucent recently landed GPON orders from a number of carriers, including China Mobile, which may push the company to speed up the release of GPON ONT orders to Taiwan makers, the sources commented.
Alcatel-Lucent currently holds a 37% share of the global GPON equipment market, Baeckelmans revealed.