Liquid Telecom chooses Alcatel-Lucent to provide DWDM and GPON equipment for fibre expansion

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is to provide Liquid Telecom with various GPON and DWDM technologies for the expansion of its networks in Kenya and Uganda.

Alcatel-Lucent is providing upgrades to previously deployed dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and gigabit passive optical networking (GPON) technologies. The DWDM upgrades will enable Liquid Telecom to add capacity needed to meet the demand for broadband services, as well as address new markets and business opportunities.  The technology will be used to provide the home and small office markets with high-speed Internet services.

Key Facts:

• Liquid Telecom is deploying GPON technology supplied by Alcatel-Lucent in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The DWDM enhancements will be deployed to Liquid Telecom’s network in Nairobi and Mombasa.
• Alcatel-Lucent is providing its industry-leading 7360 ISAM FX and 5520 Access Management System to support GPON-enabled fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) as well as its industry-leading IP Transport product family including the 1626 LM to support the DWDM.

Quotes:

Ben Roberts, Group CTO of Liquid Telecom said: “As a company Liquid Telecom is focused on building Africa’s digital future and so we’re always looking to upgrade and expand our networks to best serve the needs of current and future customers. We chose Alcatel-Lucent for this project not only because it is the incumbent supplier, but also for its design expertise in DWDM, excellent GPON market reputation, and for the value and scalability of the solutions.”

Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa said: “Alcatel-Lucent has a wide range of DWDM and GPON solutions and broad-reaching expertise in these technologies enabling Liquid Telecom to offer ultra-broadband throughout its territory in Africa. We look forward to building upon our relationship with Liquid Telecom in Eastern Africa and other locations throughout the continent.”

About The Liquid Telecom Group www.telecom.com

Liquid Telecom is the leading independent data, voice and IP provider in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. It supplies fibre optic, satellite and international carrier services to Africa’s largest mobile network operators, ISPs, financial institutions and businesses of all sizes. Liquid Telecom has built Africa’s largest single fibre network which runs from the north of Uganda to Cape Town, currently spanning over 18,000km across borders and covering Africa’s fastest-growing economies where no fixed network has existed before. Liquid Telecom’s network provides connectivity onto the five main subsea cable systems landing in Africa; WACS, EASSY, SEACOM, SAT3 and TEAMs.

Working under various brands, the Liquid Telecom Group has operating entities in Botswana, DRC, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, UK, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The company was named Best African Wholesale Carrier in 2012, 2013 and 2014 at the annual Global Carrier Awards.In September 2014, Liquid Telecom’s CEO, Nic Rudnick, was named as the most powerful and influential person in the African telecoms industry by Global Telecoms Business magazine.   The GTB Power100 is an annual list of the 100 most powerful and influential people who have the ability to move the telecoms industry.

Liquid Telecom  press contact:

For more information please contact Liquid Telecom’s PR representative Bridget Fishleigh – bridget@telecomsprafrica.com, +44 7946 342 903 or skype: bridgetfishleigh