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The evolution of FTTx networks has significantly changed the expectations of those on the other end of the connection. With increasingly robust plans reaching subscribers' homes, the perceived quality of service is no longer measured solely by the speed coming from the ONU—it now largely depends on Wi-Fi.
It's no exaggeration to say that Wi-Fi has become the most visible bottleneck in the experience. A 600 Mbps plan delivered by an outdated router results in a support call. And a support call results in cost. This reasoning, coupled with the absurd growth in the number of connected devices per household, has made Wi-Fi 6 go from "novelty" to a de facto standard in the most recent deployments.
What Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) concretely brings is greater efficiency in dense environments—that scenario of an apartment with 20 devices competing for the same channel—as well as better traffic management with OFDMA and MU-MIMO. In practice: fewer dropouts, less perceived latency, fewer complaints.
The AX2700 class fits into this context as a sensible balance point for most residential deployments today: 5 GHz with up to 2,400 Mbps for applications that truly demand it—4K streaming, gaming, video conferencing—and 2.4 GHz with up to 300 Mbps while maintaining coverage and compatibility for simpler devices.
With the arrival of the DM986-416-AX2700 ONU and the DM956-AX2700 router, Datacom expands this portfolio with two options covering the two most common scenarios: new activation and upgrade of existing infrastructure.
The new AX2700 products
DM986-416-AX2700 — GPON ONU with integrated Wi-Fi 6
For new projects or complete CPE replacements, the DM986-416-AX2700 delivers GPON optical access and Wi-Fi 6 in a single device. Fewer boxes, fewer cables, fewer points of failure — and a standardized experience that simplifies both installation and remote support.
Key specifications:
The most direct benefit here is in operation: fewer variables involved in activation, more objective support when something goes wrong, and a more consistent experience for the end subscriber.
DM956-AX2700 — Home Wi-Fi 6 Router
Not always does a complete ONU replacement make sense. For providers with an installed base running ONTs in bridge mode, or who need to improve the Wi-Fi experience without replacing the entire optical infrastructure, the DM956-AX2700 provides a direct solution with more controlled CAPEX.
Key specifications:
The logic here is simple: replacing the subscriber's router is much faster and cheaper than overhauling the entire optical infrastructure. For providers that still have a significant portion of their base on Wi-Fi 5 or lower, this model opens a path to incremental and efficient upgrades.
How the AX2700 fits into the Datacom portfolio
Datacom already works with AX3000 models, positioned for premium scenarios and higher-capacity plans. The AX2700 doesn't compete with them—it occupies a different space, geared towards the vast majority of current residential demands, where cost-effectiveness is as important as absolute performance.
In practice, the portfolio looks like this:
Within the AX2700 line itself, the two models complement each other depending on the provider's scenario:
This portfolio logic allows the ISP to meet different operational needs without having to standardize everything on the most expensive product—and also reduce calls related to Wi-Fi performance, which usually represent a significant portion of support tickets.
If you want to better understand how these devices fit into your operation—whether for new activations, base upgrades, or portfolio review—the Datacom sales team is available to discuss this.
Contact us for more information.
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