Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGC), the fixed-line division of Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings, has become the first telco to deploy the Infinera TM-Series Mobile Fronthaul Solution. It has been deployed across HGC's optical network in Hong Kong.
Network News
Ericsson to upgrade Robi Axiata's network in Bangladesh
Ericsson and Bangladesh mobile operator, Robi Axiata, have signed a three-year contract to upgrade Robi's 2G/GSM network in the Chittagong and Comilla regions of Bangladesh to 3G/WCDMA and make it ready for 4G/LTE. Existing base stations will be upgraded and Ericsson will deploy a substantial number of additional 3G/WCDMA sites in the same regions, enabling Robi to expand the network to address demand from rapid data growth.
Indosat Ooredoo to expand 4G/LTE coverage
Indosat Ooredoo is to expand its 4G/LTE network to 16 cities across Indonesia this year, the Jakarta Post reports. Indosat Ooredoo CEO, Alexander Ruslie, was reported saying the expansion would be done gradually over the course of the year. Currently, the company's 4G network is available in 27 cities.
PCCW & Telstra interconnect IPX
PCCW Global, the international operating division of HKT, and Telstra International have signed an IPX multi-service interconnection agreement, expanding their relationship in new market segments and benefiting their respective mobile and multinational customers.
Ericsson to supply NFV to XL Axiata and LG UPlus
Ericsson has been selected by Indonesian operator XL Axiata, to supply network functions virtualization (NFV) technology. Ericsson will deploy its full stack cloud solution, including the Ericsson Hyperscale Datacenter System 8000 based on Intel Rack Scale Architecture, and virtual network functions (VNFs) as part of XL Axiata's cloud evolution and realization of NFV. Separately, Ericsson has announced an NFV deal with Korean telco LG.
New cable to link Myanmar to Malaysia and Thailand
The Singapore-based Campana Group and Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks, now a subsidiary of Nokia, have announced plans to build MYTHIC (Myanmar-Malaysia-Thailand International Connection), a 1,600 km submarine cable system that will link Myanmar to Malaysia and Thailand with onward connectivity to Singapore, Hong Kong and beyond.
Ooredoo Myanmar scores $300m loans for mobile network rollout
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, are to each provide $150m loan funding to Ooredoo Group's fully owned subsidiary Ooredoo Myanmar to expand its mobile network in Myanmar.
Huawei Marine to build Maldives submarine cable
Ooredoo Maldives has partnered with Huawei Marine to deploy a fiber optic submarine cable with the aim of boosting broadband services in the Maldives.
The 1200km cable will use Huawei Marine's 100G technology and will provide Ooredoo with an enhanced resilient network that can fully address the country's increasing communication needs across developing islands and new resort locations.
EneCom to deploy Japan's first commercial G.fast network
Energia Communications (EneCom) - a telco providing Internet and communication services to residential and corporate customers in Hiroshima and the surrounding Chugoku region of Japan - is to launch the first commercial deployment of G.fast technology in Japan using technology from Nokia.
Nokia supplies LTE-A to Indosat Ooredoo
Indosat Ooredoo has selected Nokia Networks to supply an LTE-Advanced network. As part of the contract, Nokia Networks' Global Services team is deploying LTE base stations in key cities across the designated regions.