Looking to converge its telecoms services, the UAE-based Du announced on Tuesday that it had partnered with Alcatel-Lucent to deploy the latest IP-routing technology.
The move will eliminate the need for Du to manage multiple networks, simplifying network operations, the firm said.
“Convergence of fixed and mobile networks is a logical evolutionary step in our growth story. This stems from the increasing propensity of our customers to access everything from a single device,” said Osman Sultan, CEO, Du.
Under the terms of the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent has begun to deploy the IP/MPLS solution – based on its 7750 Service Router, 7705 Service Aggregation Router and 5620 Service Aware Manager – as well as provide Du with a set of services including project management, network design, installation and commissioning, integration and operations.
The agreement will have profound effects on Du customers’ experiences, Alcatel-Lucent said. The firm’s Multiscreen Video Platform, for example, will power Du’s next-generation multi-screen TV service, enabling customers to access Du TV on smartphones, tablets or PCs, using Wi-Fi or 3G.
The firm also said that it could ensure Du’s coverage from a 4G LTE perspective, using IP-based technology.
Transmission solutions can be provided for projects from small-medium enterprise size and above, and business customers can be offered end-to-end, high-tech solutions that need more than 1Gbps bandwidth, the company said.
Beyond consolidating its services onto a single network, Alcatel-Lucent’s routers should provide Du with enhanced residential video and business network services, which support video optimisation and what Alcatel-Lucent calls “Application Assurance”, which can “guarantee” that services are delivered with the right quality levels.
“The new IP network we have deployed for Du gives them an important and simplified tool for addressing the explosion in broadband data, and the embedded intelligence allows them to offer differentiating services to our customer base,” said Ben Verwaayen, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent.
Demand for high-speed broadband access, IPTV services, mobile video and more is expanding dramatically in the UAE, the announcement said.
