Probil continues to renew the infrastructure of Uzbekistan- based mobile operator, Ucell, by using Cisco technology within the scope of the NGN/ MPLS project. Ucell increases the number of added value services offered to the subscribers with its improved network…
As the business partner of Cisco with gold certificate, Probil continues to carry out the infrastructure works of Uzbekistan-based GSM operator, Ucell, within the scope of the NGN/MPLS project, of which the first phase was completed last year. In the first phase of the project, Probil improved and renewed the Ucell infrastructure in 13 cities, including Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, using Cisco technology. Within the second phase, Probil will install CRS routers in Fergana, Samarkand, Bukhara, Nukus and Tashkent.
Ucell increased its number of subscribers more than 1.5 fold last year, with the completion of the first phase of the project. As a result, Ucell is now able to offer various services and to ensure the sustainability of these services with its new infrastructure that is supported by Cisco. When the second phase is completed, Ucell’s infrastructure will have been substantially renewed, 70% of the population will utilize added value services and a strong infrastructure will have been implemented. In addition, the coverage area of Ucell will be extended and the service capacity will be improved.
Probil recreated the MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) network, which is one of the most important components of the NGN (Next Generation Networks) architecture, by using Cisco’s highest capacity router, the CRS1 series and the 7600 series routers. As a result of these improvements, the number of subscribers has increased and high quality voice and other mobile applications are supported.
Ucell Service Network IT Director, Oğuz Erce Bölükbaşı expressed his pleasure regarding the outcomes of the project and said that Ucell has started to increase its number of subscribers and was about to become the number one mobile operator of Uzbekistan with the completion of the first phase of the NGN/MPLS project. He stated,”Our number of subscribers has significantly increased with the project designed and implemented by Probil using Cisco products. Our voice, video and data traffic flows smoothly. Ucell gained a significant competitive advantage with its renewed infrastructure in so far as it enables the smooth operation of IP (Internet Protocol) based infrastructure elements and applications.’’
Unlike other Cisco routers, CRS-1 uses a special operating system called XR. It is also possible to upgrade GSR 12000 series routers (which are currently used in Turkey) to XR software; therefore many carrier class features offered by XR are utilized. The ATP business partnership covers all of the platforms, which include the XR operating system. Probil CTO, Necmi Ön, emphasized that Cisco CRS-1 offers revolutionary innovations and said, ‘’Cisco is among the most important producers with whom we have close cooperation and whose products and competencies we integrate to create synergy for our customers’ expectations. The Cisco IOS XR Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) certificate was given to Probil by Cisco for the competency of the company in the sector. With this certificate, Probil became the XR authorized business partner of Cisco that sells, installs and offers service for IOS XR based Cisco CRS1, GSR and ASR routers in Turkey. It will enable our customers to utilize advanced Internet opportunities. Four experts of Probil have been trained abroad and have gained the technical competency to design and establish and implement XR based networks. Furthermore, CRS-1 also offers revolutionary innovations on availability (uninterrupted operation of the network), which is very important for the Telecom operators.’’
Cisco Türkiye Deputy General Manager, Murat Hacısalihzade, related his views on the relationship between Cisco and Probil, stating, “Probil is an important business partner of ours with whom we achieved successful projects in many sectors. Probil, which has the Cisco IOS XR ATP certificate, introduced CRS-1 to the Turkish market. CRS-1 eliminates many of the technical barriers obstructing the development of advanced applications for operators and it also helps them to scale, in particular, their fiber optical network investments. With CRS-1, which is a part of the New Generation IP Architecture for the service providers, individual and corporate internet users will be able to use higher quality, personalized and network supported internet anywhere and anytime”.
Information Note:
The need for large scale bandwidth use and high speed access technologies such as fiber to the home, VDSL and 3G, require higher capacity and reliable routers in the operator backbone. Probil is the first to address this problem in Turkey with its Cisco solutions. The new trends and high speed access technologies such as new internet applications, Video on Demand, IP TV, MultiCast applications, Video Conference, Remote training, commercial business applications, fiber to the home, VDSL and 3G, which all require the use of large scale bandwidth, need much higher capacity routers in the operator backbone in contrast to the past. In particular, with the newly granted licenses in the telecommunications sector, many service providers are utilizing fiber optical cables in the intra-city and inter-city lines.
Cisco CRS-1 (Carrier Routing System) is offered to the Turkish market by the Probil, the business partner of Cisco, as a router that will put this capacity into service. CRS-1 is a huge capacity router which can be scaled up to 92 terabytes of routing capacity on one system. This means that CRS-1 can transmit 15 million high resolution video streams through a single system, and this amounts to hundreds of times greater capacity than the routers used today. In addition, it connects directly to fiber optical networks with IPoDWDM technology and this helps operators get rid of all traditional TDM and SDH based systems. Probil also offers Cisco’s new router, the ASR series 9000, which provides very high capacity. ASR 9000 is also known as the fastest "Access Edge" router available with its access of 400 Gbps per slot and its routing capacity of 6.4 terabyte in total.
By improving its business partnership with Cisco, Probil received the Cisco IOS XR Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) certificate. Probil has always aimed at providing the best solutions and consulting services to its customers. The company is the only Cisco partner in Turkey authorized to sell, install and offer services for IOS XR based Cisco CRS1, GSR and ASR series routers.