May 31, 2005 Munich, Germany -- Kuwait's state Ministry of Communications has commissioned Siemens to upgrade the country's telecommunications access network in six urban areas. The upgrade will employ the company's GPON platform to replace existing copper-based infrastructure with optical fiber.
According to a press release, the upgrade will provide bandwidth up to 2.5 Gbit/sec per optical fiber, enabling users with access to triple play broadband services. The company says its GPON technology routes fiber-optic cables as close as possible to residential areas and business premises; a single optical fiber is then fanned out over passive splitters and laid in a star configuration to each building, where links are terminated at optical network terminators (ONTs) or optical network units (ONUs). The network termination is equipped with one or more Ethernet interfaces, as well as voice interfaces for standard telephony, according to the company. The company says its purely passive optical network is designed to eliminate maintenance-intensive active network elements in the subscriber access area.
"At the Ministry of Communications, we realize that launching FTTH in Kuwait is a daunting task," remarks Hind Al-Aswad, project manager at Kuwait's Ministry of Communications. "That's why Siemens GPON will be the FTTH system deployed in the capital of Kuwait City, and the most important commercial areas. We know we can count on their size and their reputation to ensure the success of this mega-project."
The fiber-optic upgrade is scheduled to take place over three years, with initial users set for connection in spring 2006.
The company's GPON platform was introduced as an addition to its Carrier Ethernet product offering at this week's Broadband WorldForum Asia 2005.