KBRO expands Taiwan broadband with Harmonic fibre-on-demand
KBRO is expanding its broadband network in Taiwan with Harmonic's fibre-on-demand system, adding fibre deployment to its existing network upgrade plan.
The Taiwanese operator will use the system alongside its DOCSIS high-split modernisation work, extending fibre deeper into areas where customer demand is strongest. The deployment builds on KBRO's earlier use of Harmonic's cOS virtualised broadband platform to unify its fibre and DOCSIS networks.
This approach allows KBRO to activate fibre services from existing Harmonic Oyster Remote-PHY nodes instead of building duplicate infrastructure. In turn, it supports a more selective rollout of multi-gigabit broadband services across the operator's footprint.
Network shift
The move reflects a broader shift in network planning among cable and broadband operators, which are balancing upgrades to hybrid fibre-coaxial systems with targeted fibre expansion. In KBRO's case, that means combining a DOCSIS high-split strategy with XGS-PON upgrades in areas where it sees stronger returns or higher demand for faster services.
The rollout is expected to help KBRO increase network capacity while keeping closer control of capital spending. Harmonic framed it as part of a demand-led model in which fibre deployment is tied to commercial opportunities rather than a blanket replacement of existing infrastructure.
"We see the future of the broadband market in Taiwan to be defined by fiber-deep innovation and scalable infrastructure," said PK Lee, Vice President of Engineer at KBRO. "Our focus is on providing outstanding broadband experiences to our customers while managing our investments responsibly. Expanding our partnership with Harmonic enables us to deploy fiber where demand is strongest and efficiently deliver next-generation broadband speeds across our network."
The announcement also highlights Harmonic's push to deepen its position in broadband access infrastructure beyond its installed base in cable network upgrades. Its cOS platform already supports broadband services through nearly 41 million customer premises equipment devices worldwide, across operators in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Taiwan focus
Taiwan's broadband market has seen continued demand for faster fixed-line connections, with operators investing in a mix of fibre and upgraded cable architectures to support higher speeds and capacity. For multiple-system operators such as KBRO, the challenge is to modernise existing networks without unnecessary duplication of assets.
By using existing Remote-PHY nodes as a starting point for fibre activation, the deployment is intended to reduce the amount of additional field infrastructure required. It gives KBRO a path to XGS-PON technology and multi-gigabit service delivery while preserving flexibility over where and how upgrades take place.
Jeffrey Glahn, Senior Vice President, Global Sales at Harmonic, said the KBRO project was significant for the wider regional market. "KBRO continues to demonstrate strong leadership in advancing broadband infrastructure in a competitive market," he said. "At Harmonic, our goal is to provide broadband service providers with a practical path to expand fiber strategically and efficiently. KBRO implementation of Harmonic's fiber-on-demand architecture in the APAC market reinforces our expanding presence in global fiber modernization initiatives. We are proud to support KBRO's continued network evolution and long-term growth."
The deployment points to a hybrid upgrade path that may appeal to operators seeking to extend fibre without abandoning recently upgraded DOCSIS assets. Rather than treating fibre and cable as separate systems, the model uses a common platform to manage both, with expansion directed at specific pockets of demand.
That matters in markets where operators are under pressure to increase speeds and capacity while still controlling network investment. For KBRO, the result is a network plan that combines deeper fibre reach with continued use of its cable infrastructure as it targets multi-gigabit broadband delivery across Taiwan.