Soviet Nation Deploys Nortel Net

By Narayan Bhat

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

The telecommunication sector is all set to enter a new era in Khazakhastan with JSC Kazakhtelecom close to completing deployment of an IMS-ready, next-generation network (NGN) based on Nortel (News - Alert) technology, to provide voice and multimedia services in the Central Asian state.

 

According to online reports, the network, billed as the first NGN (next-generation network) in the Confederation of Independent States, is connected to all long distance domestic telephone exchanges in the country. It is expected to improve the availability and quality of long-distance communications and deliver high-speed, high-bandwidth communication services for corporate and private users in the ninth largest nation. 

 

While Nortel supplied project design, equipment & development services, Russian Jet Infosystems - Nortel's Carrier VoIP Service and Solution Partner - provided installation, deployment, testing and connection services.

 

Nortel has claimed that the project “will display how its technology can be used to simplify network expansion and enhancement.”

 

"The deployment of this NGN means that telecommunications in Kazakhstan is entering a new era," said Askar Zhumagaliev, CEO, JSC Kazakhtelecom, in a statement.

 

Askar has also stated that Kazakhtelecom had achieved NGN without increasing operating cost.

 

"This project is important for Nortel to showcase how our technology can be used to simplify network enhancement and expansion," said Peter Newcombe, president, Carrier Networks EMEA, Nortel.

 

Based on IP technologies, the converged JSC Kazakhtelecom network enhances long-distance network capacity by integrating VoIP soft switches and media-gateways into the existing switched telephone network.

 

As the technology is designed to transform fixed-line network into an IP-network, it will enable consumers make long distance calls at cheaper rates.

 

Apart from increasing the capacity to extend long distance services, the NGN network will also enable JSC Kazakhtelecom to provide multimedia services such as video telephony, multimedia conferencing, voice, text, and multimedia messaging.

 

According to news reports, Kazakhtelecom is also planning to use NGN network to provide corporate customers with virtual private networks.

 

"By setting up its NGN, JSC Kazakhtelecom is helping to provide better services for the citizens of Kazakhstan.," said Vladimir Eliseev, CEO, Jet Infosystems.

 

Kazakhtelecom’s NGN infrastructure incorporates two Nortel Communication Server 2000 Compact soft switches in Almaty - Kazakhstan's largest city - and a number of carrier-class Media Gateways in ten regional centers.

 

Already, over 50 exchanges in the country are connected to the NGN network.