Russian operator boosts capacity for faster mobile broadband

Details: James Barton; Category: Wireless Networks; 26 April 2011; 11926 views

Russian operator MegaFon is building a country-wide IP mobile backhaul network to reduce costs, increase network capacity and ensure smooth migration from legacy technology to an all-IP transport platform. The operator has signed up Nokia Siemens Networks in one of Russia’s most significant systems integrator deals.

Nokia Siemens Networks is providing MegaFon with its smart mobile backhaul offering, along with a range of professional services such as network design, project management, implementation and care over a period of two years. This includes integration of Tellabs 8600 Managed Edge System, the Tellabs 8800 Multiservice Router Series and the Tellabs 8000 Intelligent Network Manager, along with Juniper Networks MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers and EX Series Ethernet Switches. These items provide a seamless migration path from legacy technology to a highly-scalable all-IP transport network.

“We aim to build a unified mobile backhaul to facilitate faster rollout of 3G services such as HSPA and prepare a converged IP transport network for fixed and mobile services for millions of people in Russia,” said Valery Ermakov, first deputy to general director for operations (Chief Operations Officer), OJSC MegaFon.

“The increasing use of bandwidth-intensive applications is creating capacity bottlenecks for operators, and existing networks cannot cope with the situation,” added Joe Doering, head of Nokia Siemens Networks in the region. “Our all-IP mobile backhaul is a cost-efficient platform will enable universal access to network resources for both fixed and mobile users.”