Fastest-growing Filipino network provider expands 2G & 3G services

Thursday, 01 July 2010 09:32  |  James Barton

The Philippines’ fastest growing mobile network provider, Digitel Mobile, will invest a further $9 million in mobile backhaul network equipment as part of an ongoing expansion of its 2G and 3G services. The equipment will be provided by Ceragon Networks, a long-time client of Digitel.

The latest order puts more Ceragon gear behind a pair of expansion and upgrade projects for Digitel’s 2G/3G metro network. The operator’s Manila-Cebu Alternative Backbone project will now deliver 3G services to the southern part of the country employing native IP over long-haul microwave technology, while its North Luzon Backbone Expansion project will bring additional 2G service capacity to the north.

Both projects are part of Digitel’s migration to an all-IP Ethernet backhaul network that will better service the range of data, multimedia applications, and voice on the operator’s expanded network.

“Microwave is an ideal approach to quickly and easily setting up the most cost-efficient and consistently reliable backhaul network,” said Patrick Lam, Senior Technical Adviser of Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. “Our Ceragon-based backhaul even withstood last year’s devastating typhoon and flooding, making Digitel the only operator able to keep delivering vital telecom services to people in some of the devastated areas of the country.”

Digitel purchased a mix of traditional TDM and IP-based systems from Ceragon, including the TDM-based FibeAir 3200T, a high-capacity wireless system; the TDM-based FibeAir 1500R, high-capacity SDH/SONET wireless system; and the FibeAir IP-10, which combines IP and TDM networking for risk-free migration to IP.

More info:

• www.ceragon.com