Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that it has completed the deployment of the first gigabit passive optical network (GPON) in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. Leading Kazakhstan operator Kazakhtelecom will use the new network to provide advanced broadband services such as IPTV, video on demand (VoD) and high-speed Internet access to residential and business customers. The deployment marks the beginning of Kazakhtelecom’s strategic plan to replace its existing xDSL access infrastructure with optical fiber technology.
The use of GPON technology will enable Kazakhtelecom to boost the broadband Internet penetration in Kazakhstan –- all while introducing a wide range of new, high-quality triple-play services that will increase average revenue per user (ARPU).
“A key objective for service providers today is to not just build an access infrastructure that is capable of efficiently supporting current capacity demand. It should also provide a reliable foundation for the delivery of future, even more bandwidth-hungry multimedia applications,” said Alexander Tikhonov, Head of Alcatel-Lucent’s business in CIS. “Preparing for the introduction of the next generation of broadband services in Astana, Kazakhtelecom is leveraging Alcatel-Lucent’s GPON solution; yet another proof point of Alcatel-Lucent’s leadership in this space.”
Alcatel-Lucent has deployed its GPON-based 7342 Intelligent Services Access Manager Fiber-to-the-User (ISAM FTTU), the related 5520 Access Management System (AMS), as well as a series of indoor and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) optical network terminals (ONTs) – which are located at end-users’ premises and convert optical signals back into electrical voice, video or data. Alcatel-Lucent also provided Kazakhtelecom with its comprehensive professional services expertise – including civil works, installation, integration, testing, commissioning, maintenance as well as training.
Alcatel-Lucent is the worldwide leader in fixed broadband access, supporting the largest mass deployments of video, voice and data services. Today, one out of three fixed broadband subscribers around the world is served through an access network provided by Alcatel-Lucent. Alcatel-Lucent is involved in over 100 FTTH projects worldwide, over 85 of which are with GPON.
About Kazakhtelecom
Joint Stock Company Kazakhtelecom is the largest operator of Kazakhstan and one of the fastest growing telecommunications companies on CIS lands, provides a broad spectrum of telecommunication services. The central office is located in the capital of Kazakhstan – Astana. The company employs about 30 thousand people. JSC Kazakhtelecom has regional offices in each area of the country and in the cities of Astana and Almaty and provides services throughout the country. According to company data as of 1 January 2010 the company serves more than 3.6 million fixed-line subscribers and 2 million Internet users, including over 1.4 million users of broadband Internet. The telephone density in the Republic of Kazakhstan is an average of 23 fixed lines per 100 people. As the primary service provider of Kazakhstan, JSC Kazakhtelecom operates national backbone network with total length of more than 11,500 km linking regional centers, the cities of Almaty and Astana JSC Kazakhtelecom closely cooperates with more than 40 operators from both near and far abroad, manages representative offices in the Russian Federation, China, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as well as has Points of Presence at key traffic exchange points of the world. For more information, visit external link http://www.telecom.kz/