OCTOBER 15, 2009 -- Telecom Egypt (TE) has launched its first fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) implementation in Egypt in the Cairo suburb area of Qatamiya. The carrier views the FTTH launch a major achievement that enables it to provide new and integrated services that cater for current and future needs for residential and business customers.
Tarek Tantawy, CEO and managing director of Telecom Egypt, commented, “Telecom Egypt is adopting a new strategy to roll out fiber access networks in areas with demand for high-speed broadband access that reaches 70 Mbps. By connecting residential customers with a direct fiber connection we can offer triple-play services through one single high-speed connection. This represents a breakthrough in access networks in Egypt.
“We have started implementing FTTx access networks in the rising new suburbs around Cairo and Alexandria, and today we are celebrating our first triple-play customer in Qatamiya area,” Tantawy added. He also indicated that the company plans to continue rolling out fiber access networks to cater for the needs of high-end and business customers.
Telecom Egypt’s chief commercial officer, Emad Elazhary, added that optical access networks open a lot of opportunities to provide customers with integrated telecom services targeting the “Smart Home” services that the company announced last year. These services include basic services like voice, data, and IPTV in one bundle. These services are offered to customers in coordination with TE Data and utilizing existing content contracts such those with ART, a leading Arabic content provider.
In addition customers can enjoy additional value added services that exist today over TE Live portal like Family Internet services, as well as online gaming.
Ahmed Ossama, TE Data’s managing director added, “FTTx access networks are the ultimate in broadband access which avails additional services to customers in areas of e-education and e-health as well as the basic triple-play services. Possibilities of new revenue streams include video conferencing services as well as security services. Additionally customers can control their home electrical appliances remotely making life easier and more secure.”