Estonia's 10G Leap: Vecima Powers Next-Gen Fiber for Elisa

VICTORIA, British Columbia – May 06, 2026 – Leading telecommunications operator Elisa is set to dramatically enhance Estonia's broadband capabilities by deploying 10-gigabit Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services, powered by technology from Canadian innovator Vecima Networks Inc. (TSX: VCM). The partnership involves the rollout of Vecima’s Entra EXS1610 All-PON™ Shelf, a strategic move that promises to deliver multi-gigabit speeds to subscribers and further solidify Estonia's position as a premier digital society.

The announcement marks a significant milestone for both companies. For Elisa, it represents a crucial upgrade to meet escalating consumer demand for bandwidth in a competitive market. For Vecima, it underscores its growing dominance in the global fiber access market, securing a key deployment with a major European operator.

Powering a Nation's Digital Ambition

Estonia is no stranger to digital innovation. Consistently ranking among Europe's most advanced digital economies—placing 9th in the European Commission's 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)—the nation has long fostered a culture of technological adoption. This new deployment aligns perfectly with the country's national strategy, including the Estonian Digital Agenda 2030, which aims for universal access to ultrafast and reliable telecommunications.

While Estonia boasts impressive mobile internet speeds, with Elisa leading the pack at an average of 128.9 Mb/s, the fixed broadband market presents a different picture. Despite a median fixed download speed of nearly 170 Mbps as of March 2026, consumer demand for symmetric, gigabit-plus speeds—driven by remote work, cloud gaming, 4K/8K streaming, and smart home ecosystems—is surging. Elisa's move to 10G FTTH directly addresses this demand, promising a quantum leap in performance for its subscribers.

This infrastructure upgrade is also critical for bridging the urban-rural divide. Government initiatives like the "EstWin" project have laid the groundwork for a nationwide fiber backbone, and deploying flexible, high-capacity solutions like Vecima's can help accelerate the final-mile connections needed to bring economic and social benefits to all corners of the country.

Vecima's Strategic Win in the Global 10G Race

The partnership is a significant validation of Vecima's market strategy and technological prowess. According to industry analysis firm Dell'Oro Group, Vecima has maintained its position as the global revenue leader in Remote Optical Line Terminal (R-OLT) devices for five consecutive years. This leadership is built on a portfolio of flexible and scalable solutions that empower operators to upgrade their networks efficiently.

In the highly competitive PON equipment market, where Vecima contends with industry giants like Nokia and ADTRAN, its success lies in its focused approach. The company’s Entra series has gained a reputation for its open, disaggregated architecture, which frees operators from vendor lock-in and allows for more agile network evolution.

Elisa's selection of the EXS1610 shelf over other solutions highlights the product's compelling advantages for operators navigating complex network upgrades. By providing a clear and cost-effective path to 10G services, Vecima is enabling operators worldwide to stay ahead of the bandwidth curve and secure their market position for the coming decade.

The Technology Behind the 10G Leap

At the heart of this deployment is the Vecima Entra EXS1610 All-PON™ Shelf. This compact, 1-rack-unit device is engineered for maximum flexibility, a critical factor for operators like Elisa who must serve a mix of urban, suburban, and potentially rural environments.

Its key technical advantages include:
* Deployment Versatility: The EXS1610 is temperature-hardened, allowing it to be deployed in a wide range of locations—from climate-controlled data centers and headends to outdoor cabinets and multi-dwelling units (MDUs). This adaptability significantly reduces operational complexity and cost.
* All-PON Capability: The shelf supports multiple passive optical network (PON) standards on its 16 ports, including 10G-EPON and XGS-PON. This allows Elisa to serve different types of customers and upgrade its network gracefully without needing to replace hardware.
* Open Ecosystem: Vecima's commitment to multi-vendor interoperability means Elisa is not locked into a single supplier for customer premise equipment (CPE), providing greater flexibility and cost control when selecting optical network terminals (ONTs).

“Vecima is unique in offering a purpose-built, 16-port, 1 rack unit 10G-EPON shelf that shares the same software as the worldwide market share-leading Entra SF-4X Remote Optical Line Terminal (R-OLT) platform,” said Vijay Raman, Vice President of Fiber Access Product Line Management at Vecima. “Operators can be confident that the EXS1610 is ready to deploy at scale on day one.”

This shared software architecture is a powerful selling point, ensuring operational consistency and leveraging the proven stability of Vecima's most widely deployed platform. It also provides a clear migration path to future standards, such as 50G PON, protecting Elisa's investment for years to come.

From Network Shelves to Economic Transformation

The ripple effects of this 10G FTTH deployment will extend far beyond faster download speeds. For Estonian consumers, it means a seamless digital life, where multiple high-bandwidth applications can run simultaneously without a hitch. Lag-free cloud gaming, flawless 8K video conferencing for remote work, and a truly connected smart home will become the new standard.

For the broader Estonian economy, this enhanced digital backbone is a powerful catalyst for growth and innovation. It strengthens the country's appeal for foreign investment, particularly in the tech sector, and empowers local businesses to develop and deploy next-generation digital services. As Estonia continues to push the boundaries of e-governance and digital transformation, a robust, future-proof communications infrastructure is not just an advantage—it is a necessity.

By partnering with Vecima, Elisa is not only upgrading its network but also investing in the future of Estonia's digital society, ensuring its citizens and businesses have the connectivity they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world.