Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) says it will supply its ASR 9000 Aggregation Services router to TIM as part of a project to upgrade the Italian ICT service provider's optical packet metro network. Deployment of the ASR 9000 will enable the use of new automation mechanisms and software-defined network (SDN) technology, the systems house says.
The optical packet metro network collects and aggregates traffic from TIM's fixed and mobile lines as well as company connections. The upgrade will improve operational efficiency and enable TIM to create new business models to facilitate the adoption of 5G technology, Cisco says. For example, TIM will be able to more effectively target the digitization of its fixed and mobile line services for the consumer, business, and wholesale markets. TIM will be able to offer higher quality IP traffic transport as well as greater bandwidth through the provision of 100-Gbps IP connectivity to metropolitan areas, Cisco adds.
The optical packet metro upgrade is one aspect of TIM's 3-year plan for 2017-2019 that will see the ICT service provider spend approximately 5 billion euros to support national ultra-broadband (fiber and 4G) coverage. TIM expects to cover 99% of fixed-network homes and over 99% of the population with 4G by the end of 2019.
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