Zhone Technologies, a FTTx network access solutions provider, has announced that UAE-based telecoms operator Etisalat is utilising the vendor’s MXK platform to backhaul its mobile data traffic, including traffic from its most recent Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployment. Etisalat will use Zhone’s MXK intelligent terabit access concentrator solution and the vendor’s FiberCell portfolio as part of its efforts to enable a 1 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) link to each LTE mobile radio base station, as it completes a major network expansion and transitions to 4G wireless services throughout the UAE. Leveraging the Zhone Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) MXK platforms deployed across the country in support of its existing fibre-to-the-home (FTTH)-based multi-play services, Etisalat will be able to transition its existing circuit-based backhaul to next generation fibre backhaul with minimal infrastructure overlay.
‘Zhone’s FTTx solution gives us unprecedented flexibility, scalability, robust network control and the ability to offer more bandwidth to customers with greater efficiency,’ commented Esmaeel Al-Hammadi, vice president of fixed access and radio networks, adding: ‘Now, we are able to efficiently offload LTE services and provide efficient mobile backhaul utilising our existing nationwide FTTH network. By utilising our existing FTTH infrastructure for mobile backhaul, Zhone was able to help us quickly and cost-effectively launch LTE services at full bandwidth capacity and maximum Gigabit Ethernet line speed nationwide.’