Turk Telekom taps Alcatel-Lucent for ASON/GMPLS-based optical network

Turk Telekom taps Alcatel-Lucent for ASON/GMPLS-based optical network

Alcatel-Lucent and Türk Telekom, the fixed telecom operator in Turkey, have signed a Euro 21.6 million contract to deploy an optical network using an intelligent control plane. Türk Telekom says the network, will be the first implementation of this kind in Turkey, enabling the operator to provide automatic traffic provisioning for enhanced network protection, operation, and maintenance. And Alcatel-Lucent confirms that with this deployment, it now exceeds more than 700 ASON/GMPLS-enabled optical cross-connects rolled out worldwide.

Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its optical networking system with intelligent control plane in the cities of Ankara, Adana, Istanbul, and Izmir. Alcatel-Lucent says the new deployment will help Türk Telekom further optimize its efficiency in network resource utilization to deliver existing and new services, such as Ethernet-based services, to business and residential users, while protecting its previous investments.

"Driven by IP-based video and multimedia high bandwidth services, a network transformation is occurring in the optical core network, where huge traffic increases have to be supported along with high availability," explains Frédéric Rose, president of Alcatel-Lucent's business in Europe, Africa, and Asia. "This new contract confirms our ability to assist our customers in their network transformation plans and a commitment to the underlying technology innovation."

Intelligent control plane, which is based on automatically switched optical network (ASON) / generalized multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) technology, is key for dynamic networking and traffic protection. Its introduction over the Alcatel-Lucent 1678 Metro Core Connect (MCC), which will be deployed in Türk Telekom's core transport network, will benefit Türk Telekom with superior network protection, operation and maintenance capabilities for minimized operational expenditures, claim Alcatel-Lucent representatives.

Furthermore, Alcatel-Lucent says it will supply its Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) systems to extend the current transport infrastructure, based on its SDH and WDM technologies. The existing Alcatel-Lucent 1350 management suite--providing all the administration, configuration, fault prevention, and security management capacity required to operate this type of network--will manage the new equipment.