Armenian broadband internet service provider iCON Communications (iCON) has announced the launch of WiMAX-based high speed wireless broadband services in the Armenian capital Yerevan. The company is offering the service to business users, government bodies and consumers, at what it claims are ‘very competitive prices’. iCON has switched on its network in the Arabkir and Ajapnyak districts of Yerevan and plans to cover the entire city by the end of 2009, with coverage of all major cities to follow in 2010.
TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database reports that in October last year, Alcatel-Lucent was selected by iCON to deploy and maintain a commercial WiMAX 802.16e-2005 (Rev-e) network in Armenia. iCON is looking to provide a range of services including high speed internet access, VoIP and VPNs. At the time of the contract award, Adam Kablanian, chief executive officer of iCON Communications, said: ‘We see a clear demand for quality, competitively-priced broadband access both in enterprise and consumer segments in Armenia. Given our aggressive timeline for launch, we chose Alcatel-Lucent’s quick-to-deploy wireless WiMAX solution to provide local broadband access in a market underserved by the wireline services providers’.
Alca-Lu has supplied an end-to-end WiMAX Rev-e platform comprising base stations, wireless access controllers, and an operations and maintenance centre (OMC) as well as customer premises equipment (CPE). The core IP network is based on the Alcatel-Lucent 7710 Service Router, which Alca-Lu claims provides resilient IP/MPLS networking functionality for new mobile IP services. The vendor will also provide its 9500 Microwave Cross Connect (MXC) and 9400 AWY Microwave systems to support iCON’s backhaul requirements.
iCON Communications was established in late 2007 and has invested around USD10 million to date. The company also announced it has struck a partnership deal with VTEL Holding, a Dubai-based multinational holding company specialising in telecommunication networks. No further details of the agreement were given.