Vodacom to deploy GPON FTTP in South Africa

Vodacom, South Africa's largest mobile service provider, plans to build a GPON-based fiber to the premises (FTTP) network to expand its service range for the enterprise and residential markets. Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) will supply the GPON broadband access network equipment.

The service provider expects to deploy the converged network in all major markets in South Africa, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban. The company expects to pass about 150,000 homes and 100,000 businesses within the next three years of the fiber-optic network roll out.

Alcatel-Lucent will supply its 7360 ISAM FX GPON systems as well as its Customer Experience Management Platform using the Motive Home Device Manager and Network Analyzer Fiber capabilities for the project. The company also will supply professional services, operations support systems (OSS) deployment, and managed services.

"We first began talking with Alcatel-Lucent about expanding Vodacom's business into the fixed access market five years ago. This was a significant move for us and required a great deal of consideration. Over time, the Alcatel-Lucent team was able to show that it was the right move for us and that their solution was the best for our needs," according to Andries Delport, Vodacom Group CTO.

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