Tunisiana selects Alcatel-Lucent to build new broadband network

Tunisia's largest provider of wireless communications services, Tunisiana, on Monday selected Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) to build a fiber- and copper-based wireline broadband network that will support broadband data and video services.

Alcatel-Lucent Motive Home Device Manager

Motive Home Device Manager interface. (Image source: Alcatel-Lucent)

With plans to launch commercial services beginning in 2013, Tunisiana will leverage both Alcatel-Lucent's GPON and VDSL2 broadband access platforms.

In addition to access network equipment, the service provider will use two of the vendor's Motive customer experience solution (CXS) elements: Motive Network Analyzer for network performance monitoring, and the Motive Home Device Manager, which enables service providers to use the TR-69 protocol to remotely manage various home broadband devices such as gateways and set-top boxes.

Complementing the network equipment and software, Alcatel-Lucent will also provide its suite of professional services. The vendor will perform various duties, including build out and design, as well as managing and maintaining the network.

This new network build will make Tunisiana the latest competitor in Tunisia's growing wireline and wireless broadband markets.

While Tunisiana has been the dominant wireless operator in terms of subscribers, unlike its competitors Orange and Tunisie Telecom it was not allowed to offer wireline or mobile broadband services.

All of that changed in March when the Tunisian Ministry of Communications Technology awarded the wireless operator a 3G wireless and wireline service provider license. 

For more:
- see the release
- cellular-news has this article

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