Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announced today that Kenya Data Networks (KDN), one of the largest data communications carriers in Africa, will further extend and upgrade its IP/MPLS network, which is based on the Alcatel-Lucent Triple Play Service Delivery Architecture (TPSDA). Once deployed, the expanded network will cover 12 metro areas across Kenya giving mobile, residential and enterprise customers more speed, higher quality, and unequalled stability for triple play services, along with guaranteed quality of service (QOS) for business-critical applications, and future mobile services.
These latest enhancements include Alcatel-Lucent's industry-leading gigabit passive optical networking (GPON) solution as well as additional IP/MPLS service routers. The expanded network will enhance KDN's state-of-the-art IP infrastructure with more resiliency, more capacity, and more flexibility. It also sets a new benchmark for high performance and QOS, two key components required to offer reliable triple play services at non-blocking speeds, simultaneously to both business and residential users. As well, enterprise users will have access to Service Level Agreement (SLA) based networking services like Virtual Private LAN service (VPLS) and IP virtual private networks (VPN), also with guaranteed QOS.
“KDN has been providing the most advanced telecommunications technology to Kenya and other countries in East Africa for a number of years,” said Kai Wulff, CEO of KDN and Group Executive of Altech East and Central Africa. “We chose Alcatel-Lucent to help us continue this legacy because of its technology leadership in GPON and IP-converged triple play services, as well as its reputation for performance and reliability.”
“KDN's selection is a further recognition of our ability to assist operators around the globe in their journey to all-IP networks,” said Vincenzo Nesci, President of Alcatel-Lucent's business in the Middle East and Africa. “By converging all services onto an IP-based platform, operators such as KDN can save on OPEX due to the efficiencies in operational processes and procedures while quickly introducing new multimedia services into the market.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its 7450 Ethernet Service Switch and additional 7750 service routers, to complement the existing portfolio already in the network. Alcatel-Lucent will also provide its GPON-based 7342 Intelligent Services Access Manager Fiber-to-the-User (ISAM FTTU) platform.
Over 270 service providers in more than 100 countries around the world have selected the Alcatel-Lucent IP/MPLS portfolio as key elements of their IP transformation. According to Ovum RHK, Alcatel-Lucent holds the number two position in the IP/MPLS Edge market segment worldwide, and the number one position in EMEA.
Alcatel-Lucent is the world's leading provider in the fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) space, being involved in more than 95 FTTH projects - 80 of which are based on GPON technology, serving leading operators such as Verizon, France Telecom, Portugal Telecom and Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited.
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