In a tender process completed in late 2011, Colombia’s Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications awarded the National Fiber Optic Project, part of the “Plan Vive Digital” program, to Grupo Salinas. As a result, group company Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia is set to deploy the country’s largest and most modern fiber optics networks.
To accomplish this goal, Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia has selected Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) as one of the network providers. Together, the two companies will deploy a suite of products to build out a 4th generation IP network infrastructure to deliver broadband services to more than 397 municipalities in Colombia. The broadband services will be delivered using Wi-Fi and point-to-multipoint wireless access.
Alexandra Reyes, CEO Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia says: “For Colombia, the ‘information superhighway’ is a fundamental tool to promote national advancement through the use of technology. Together with Ericsson, we will bring high-speed broadband to even the most remote regions of the country. We expect this to result in broad access to competitive services, increased employment and provide better welfare for the population.”
Ericsson’s 4th generation IP network solution for Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia includes the flagship SSR 8000 family of Smart Services Routers, deployed as core routers; SmartEdge Multi-Service Edge Routers; the SPO 1400 family of Packet Optical Transport Platforms (POTPs); and Ericsson Wi-Fi access points, controllers and management.
Jan Häglund, Head of IP and Broadband, Ericsson, says: “This contract is a major endorsement of our 4th generation IP network solution and marks the beginning of a new partnership between Ericsson and Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia. The solution will enable Azteca Comunicaciones Colombia to offer a rich suite of differentiated services and the scalability of the platforms will ensure the ability to meet future traffic and subscriber growth targets.”
Ericsson has been present in Colombia for more than 116 years, supporting and enabling the introduction of the most advanced Ericsson technology in the country.
