The latest Gfast chipsets, supporting Amendment 3 functionality, are offering a mature solution for gigabit broadband that is re-igniting the copper-versus-fiber debate.
Since the first Gfast chipsets were introduced in 2014, vendors have worked with network operators and system developers to run trials and experiment with higher performance, longer reach and support for coax. The Gfast specifications have been further developed with three amendments, clarifying issues and adding support for 212MHz operation, coax and dynamic time assignment (DTA). The latest Gfast chipsets implement all this functionality and some additional features for future specifications. Gfast has been demonstrated delivering 4Gbit/s aggregate bandwidth on two bonded pairs of CAT-3 copper telephone wires.