Fujitsu 1FINITY™ platform enables access to essential digital services for remote communities, furthering Connect to Innovate program
RICHARDSON, Texas — March 15, 2022 — Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. today announced that CityWest is deploying the modular Fujitsu 1FINITY™ platform and Virtuora® Network Controller (NC) to bring essential connectivity to rural and remote areas of northern British Columbia. With access to the latest fiber network infrastructure, previously underserved communities will benefit from improved delivery of education, health, safety and social services, as well as accelerated economic development.
Part of the Canadian government’s Connect to Innovate program, this project benefits residents and businesses throughout the Tahltan Nation Territory. The Connect to Innovate program has committed $585 million to bridge the digital divide in more than 975 rural and remote communities, including 190 indigenous First Nations, impacting 390,000 households.
The new Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) fiber network, incorporating Fujitsu 1FINITY T310 Transport and L100 Lambda blades, provides the high-performance backbone infrastructure CityWest needs to deliver enhanced connectivity and capacity upgrades to remote geographies. In addition, Virtuora NC enables open, multi-vendor, software-defined networking (SDN) control and management for efficient scalability. CityWest also is relying on the expertise of Fujitsu field services teams to support logistics and network deployment under challenging environmental conditions across northern Canada.
“Having worked with Fujitsu on several projects, we are confident that their product reliability, customer support, and network deployment experience constitute a significant asset for success,” said Stefan Woloszyn, chief executive officer of CityWest. “We are gratified to undertake another Connect to Innovate project, and we look forward to bringing world-class connectivity to the Tahltan Nation, allowing them to benefit from essential digital services, and helping to improve economic development opportunities for indigenous communities.”
“Network digital transformation is crucial to bridging the digital divide, despite the geographic challenges in remote communities,” said Annie Bogue, head of sales and marketing at Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. “With advanced fiber optic technology, SDN management and field services to ensure a smooth rollout, Fujitsu is delivering outstanding support for CityWest’s mission to provide the best possible customer experience.”
CityWest and Fujitsu also are working together to support the Connected Coast deployment, another Connect to Innovate project along the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Both deployments are expected to begin offering service at the end of 2022.
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