Nokia has built a new 400G national optical backbone network for du (formerly Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC)). The network crosses the entire country, reaching from the Western border to the East.
du is one of the two main telecom operators in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering fixed line, mobile telephony, internet and digital television services across the region. The new optical network is designed to address the growing capacity requirement while providing an enhanced network experience to its customers.
The network will leverage Nokia’s fifth-generation super-coherent photonic service engine (PSE-Vs) and colourless-directionless-contentionless and flexible grid (CDC-F) ROADM technology to ensure efficient delivery of 400G wavelengths throughout the UAE. The generalised multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) feature of the new network is designed to help du to enhance the service level agreements by enabling automatic rerouting through alternate paths. The network will also enable network-as-a-service (NaaS) capabilities to monetise wholesale service.
Saleem Alblooshi, CTO at du, says: “Our partnership with Nokia represents a key step forward in fulfilling du's commitment to shaping 'today for tomorrow.' Leveraging Nokia's cutting-edge optical technology solutions is a game-changer, not just for us, but for the entire UAE. It not only enhances our subscribers' experiences but also ensures the creation of a national optical backbone that is energy-efficient, sustainable, and ready to face the future. Through this initiative, du reasserts its commitment of building ‘today for tomorrow’ in line with the UAE’s vision of sustainability.”
Rima Manna, Vice President for Nokia's Middle East Market Unit at Nokia, adds: “du makes continuous efforts to cater to the increasing demand for capacity for its customers. With Nokia’s solution, the new optical backbone will enable du to add capacity, benefit from automating processes and service delivery and improve revenue by providing innovative services to its customers. du is our longstanding partner and we are excited to work on this initiative."