MTN Nigeria is working with Alcatel-Lucent to launch a superfast, 100 gigabit-per-second fiber-optic network that re-uses existing 10G optical assets for its 58 million subscribers.

Alcatel-Lucent will use it’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform designed to the latest international SD-FEC zero touch photonics and coherent technology.  The firm says it’s Agile Optical Networking combines WDM, OTN, and GMPLS/ASON control plane intelligence to assure scalable, versatile, reliable and efficient transport at 100G and beyond.

In a statement, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, CTO of MTN Nigeria said:  “MTN realized we needed to upgrade our network to meet customer expectations for ultra-broadband connectivity and high reliability within Nigeria’s very competitive marketplace.  We wanted a state of the art solution that met three main criteria: increased network reliability, a high degree of scalability to prepare the network for 400G and beyond, and preservation of our existing 10G investment.  Alcatel-Lucent’s demonstrations showed that they could meet all of our criteria and we look forward to deploying the network overlay in 2014.”

With over 58 million subscribers, MTN Nigeria provides cellular network access and ICT solutions to millions of Nigerians, connecting whole communities with each other and with the rest of the world. It is also the largest subsidiary in the MTN Group – a multinational telecommunications group offering world-class cellular network access and business solutions to over 210 million subscribers in 22 countries across Africa and the Middle East.

- Ad-