Operator Africell Sierra Leone is to roll out a high-capacity disaggregated IP/MPLS backbone to deliver mobile and fixed services, with support from IP Infusion, a manufacturer of carrier-grade networking software.
IP Infusion announced late last week that Pine Networks, a systems integrator based in Paris, has chosen its OcNOS Network Operating System to provide a disaggregated networking solution for Africell.
Africell offers comprehensive mobile coverage throughout Senegal. Africell also provides high-capacity fibre to the ‘x’ (FTTx) to cater to the connectivity needs of businesses and residential areas in Freetown, the capital.
Due to the significant surge in traffic resulting from its extensive 4G coverage, and in preparation for the introduction of 5G, it became crucial for Africell to deploy a robust and scalable IP backbone network for the backhauling of both mobile and fixed traffic.
Africell therefore made the strategic decision to deploy its new backbone infrastructure using disaggregated routing solutions based on the IP Infusion OcNOS Network Operating System and the Edgecore hardware switches.
Systems integrator Pine Networks developed and delivered this turnkey project to Africell – from network design and proof of concept to integration and traffic migration.
Ali Abou Hamdan, Head of Transmission and IP at Africell Sierra Leone, says: “We made the decision to use a disaggregated routing solution because it covered all of our requirements and provided the flexibility we need at a lower point than traditional solutions.”
Hadi Choueiry, General Manager of Pine Networks, adds: “The IP Infusion OcNOS was the right choice for Africell, because it provides the required features for current and future requirements as Africell introduces more advanced services,”
