Cisco platform picked for Bangkok metro network upgrade

June 13, 2005 Bangkok, Thailand -- TOT Corp., formerly known as the Telephone Organization of Thailand, has upgraded its core network for the Bangkok metropolitan area using a system built on Cisco's ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP). The operator says the platform allow it to increase network capacity from 1-Gbit/sec to 320-Gbit/sec without requiring further hardware replacements or additional optical fiber deployments.

According to a press release, the new infrastructure will initially support the operator's residential broadband services in the Bangkok metropolitan area. The operator says it is also trial testing a variety of other services that it will eventually commercialize. The operator says the deployment comes in response to strong demand from its retail and corporate customers for high-speed broadband access and integrated data, voice, and video services. The operator says the platform provides it with flexibility to increase or decrease its network capacity to meet demand.

"The competitive landscape today means that it is important for service providers to be able to build and grow cost-effective, reconfigurable telecommunications networks, without affecting or compromising service quality," remarks Asawin Kangvolkij, managing director for Cisco Systems Thailand. "TOT's decision on Cisco's optical networking solution will allow it to transition its legacy circuit-switched networks to IP-based networks."

The Cisco ONS 15454 MSTP enables multi-service delivery using metro DWDM technology. The platform integrates DWDM and 32-channel 10-Gbit/sec capability and scales optical transport from tens of kilometers to hundreds of kilometers, according to the company. The company says the platform provides capital and operational efficiency by addressing the demand for multiple services, greater transport capacity, networking flexibility, multiple distance options, and management simplicity in a single platform.