Newsroom

Dutch network connectivity provider aQuestora is planning to deliver optical fiber-based broadband infrastructure utilizing LG-Ericsson’s Ethernet Access 1100 universal fiber platform and Genexis’ Hybrid series customer premises equipment (CPE).

aQuestora provides connectivity services to service providers, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and end users in communities across The Netherlands. As an open neutral access provider, the company is building open access broadband networks that grow business and accelerate public access to next-generation high-speed services.

aQuestora says LG-Ericsson’s EA 1100 platform is an ideal fit for its needs. The EA 1100 supports gigabit-bandwidth point-to-point symmetrical services per user over a flexible arrangement of fiber distribution technologies. The system guarantees secure separation of user traffic and provides robust quality of service capabilities that support stringent SLA requirements. This will enable aQuestora to provide secure services to both business and residential customers, and the flexibility to support multiple service providers.

Genexis’s open-access CPE portfolio is becoming a popular choice for many FTTH deployments worldwide, the company says. aQuestora selected the Hybrid product line because it is a fully modular home gateway offering a cost-effective and flexible service platform. From investment and installation through to operation, Genexis’s products deliver the lowest total lifecycle cost of ownership. Genexis’ long-lasting partnership with LG-Ericsson is a solid proof point for end-to-end interoperability.

“aQuestora has succeeded in finding reliable partners to achieve the set goals positioning itself as a neutral open active operator,” said Jan Herps, co-founder and director aQuestora. “Our customers are service providers in the widest range, including the rapidly upcoming services in healthcare. They accept only the highest reliability, and we have the same criteria in the selection of our business partners, as we did with LG- Ericsson and Genexis.”

aQuestora’s projects are moving from planning and customer sign-up phase to implementation, with intention to roll out municipal, school and healthcare networks starting in the second half of 2012.

Infonetics Research says that demand for cloud services and an overall increase in data traffic will boost the market for Ethernet and IP MPLS virtual private network (VPN) services to beyond $81 billion by 2016. The market research firm makes the prediction in its newly released 2012 Ethernet and IP MPLS VPN Services report.

Ethernet and MPLS IP VPN service revenue worldwide grew a combined 13% in 2011 to just over $50 billion, Infonetics says. This growth rate was significantly greater than that of telecom service provider revenue (though actual service provider revenue is increasing). More than 90% of spending on mobile backhaul equipment in 2011 was on IP/Ethernet gear, the company adds.

"The move from legacy frame relay, ATM, and leased-line services onto Ethernet and IP services is quickening as businesses put a razor-sharp focus on staying competitive in today's highly interconnected, mobile, video- and cloud-oriented world," notes Michael Howard, co-founder and principal analyst of Infonetics Research. "By 2015, ATM and frame relay will virtually vanish, while private leased lines will be around a bit longer."

Asia Pacific will surpass EMEA as the leading region for IP MPLS VPN services this year; it already leads in Ethernet services. Asia will remain the leader for the combined IP MPLS VPN and Ethernet services market going forward as well, led by China and India, according to the report.

Infonetics' Ethernet and IP MPLS VPN Services report provides market size, forecasts through 2016, and market and trends analysis for wholesale and retail Ethernet services (Internet and WAN access, E-LINE, E-LAN services) by speed, and managed and unmanaged Layer 2 and Layer 3 IP MPLS VPN services.

Philippine telecom incumbent PLDT says it will increase the capacity and service flexibility of its backbone Domestic Fiber Optic Network (DFON) via coherent 100-Gbps technology and Optical Transport Network (OTN) switching capabilities from Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN).

This upgrade of PLDT's DFON network is part of the company's two-year network modernization program launched in 2011. The network is expected to be ready for commercial services before the end of this year. The project entails installing new Ciena electronics in the nodes of our high-usage loops and connecting them to existing fibers. PLDT will deploy the Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platform with WaveLogic coherent optical technology, integrated ROADM capabilities, and OTN switching as the cornerstone of the upgrade.

“As the first 100G network in the Philippines, this deployment will add significant bandwidth scalability, reliability, and intelligence to PLDT’s network infrastructure. The network upgrade will complete PLDT’s core network modernization program and support the delivery of next-generation services to customers such as fiber-to-the-home, fiber-to-the-building, LTE/4G, IPTV, and triple-play services,” PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno said.

The network will not only benefit PLDT but its cellular subsidiaries, Smart Communications and Sun Cellular, Nazareno added.

“With this first deployment in the Philippines of coherent 40G, 100G and OTN switching solutions from Ciena, PLDT is strengthening its leadership position and further differentiating its network in the highly competitive Philippines marketplace,” added Anthony McLachlan, Ciena vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific.

euNetworks Group Limited (SGX: H23.SI), today announced that it has deployed an 8.8 Terabyte fibre based network from London to Dublin. Live and carrying customer services today, this completes the meshing of euNetworks’ 13 operational fibre based city networks into a single optical domain. euNetworks are now able to deliver their complete service portfolio from Dublin through to London, Frankfurt and across Europe.

While the region continues to experience macroeconomic pressures, the demand for bandwidth continues to grow. Multinational technology companies have committed to further investment in their data centre and network infrastructure in and around Dublin over the last 12 months, with robust and diverse connections both in the city and across Europe evermore important as they continue to scale and bandwidth usage increases. euNetworks has developed an end-to-end fully redundant and owned network. Connecting Dublin into a national network across the United Kingdom including Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol and onwards to London, this network has been designed with the ability to provide optimal paths and diverse routing. euNetworks also utilises the next generation of Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) platform in the network, enabling 10G, 40G and 100G capability day one.

“We are delighted to be able to improve our capability and connection to the Dublin market,” said Brady Rafuse, Chief Executive Officer of euNetworks. “As a bandwidth infrastructure provider, our fibre assets in the metro are at the core of our strategy and business model. For a truly seamless and scalable experience for our customers, we need to link all our operating metropolitan networks with fibre based long haul connections. With this new link we complete that, and can now offer our customers a truly seamless service across cities, countries and Western Europe.”

euNetworks Group Ltd.