Telco Systems & Dimension Data Partner For Better Ethernet

Telco Systems, the leading provider of innovative SDN/NFV, CE 2.0, MPLS and IP solutions, and Dimension Data, a leading technology services provider, today jointly announced that Telco Systems is in the process of upgrading Dimensions Data’s carrier ethernet network in Kenya.

“We are pleased to build on our long-standing relationship with Dimension Data in providing the continued expansion of the company’s network capacity and service offering,” stated Ariel Efrati, CEO at Telco Systems. Through this partnership, Telco Systems will deploy an additional several hundred units of its T-Marc 3348 demarcation devices, which are compact, high capacity demarcation devices featuring high port density for cost-effective carrier Ethernet service connectivity.

Dimension Data provides advanced Cloud, communication, connectivity and carrier services to public and private sector organizations in Kenya and other countries in the region, including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda.

Telco Systems delivers an industry-leading portfolio of Carrier Ethernet and MPLS-based demarcation, aggregation, NFV, and uCPE solutions, enabling service providers to create intelligent, service-assured networks for mobile backhaul, business services, and cloud networking. Telco Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BATM Advanced Communications (LSE: BVC).

The network upgrade, which is expected to be completed early next year, will see Telco Systems double the capacity of Dimension Data’s carrier ethernet network in Kenya. This network upgrade will boost the bandwidth and Internet service speeds for local businesses and home users twofold at a time when the demand for connectivity in Kenya has risen by 5.1 per cent between April and June amid stay-at-home measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Richard Hechle, Managing Director of Dimension Data, East and West Africa said “Telco Systems has consistently delivered networking innovations that we need to cost-effectively expand our service offering, improve our customer experience and promote automated operations.”

Dimension Data’s global business has been fully integrated with NTT Communications, NTT Security and 25 other companies since 2019 to form a new global operating company, branded NTT. However, Dimension Data remain remains an independently branded affiliate of the NTT Group and retains the Dimension Data brand in the Middle East and Africa.

According to the latest industry report from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) released in early November 2020, subscriptions in the country increased to 40.9 million in the quarter ending June, and up from 38.9 million in the period ending March.

The regulator attributed this rise to increased demand for access to information online, coupled with the transfer of more services to the digital space during the pandemic period. Among those who pushed the rise in Internet subscriptions are students, who have switched to online learning.

“Our strategic partnership with Telco Systems, which spans over a decade and across multiple upgrades, is a key factor in the success of our network operations,” said Hechle.

With SDN support for network configuration and modelling using NETCONF and YANG, the newly deployed T-Marc 3348 devices will enable Dimension Data to further its vision of enhancing customer experience through business automation.

“This network upgrade project clearly demonstrates the importance of network expansions for delivering reliable connectivity in emerging markets and ensuring business continuity as the demand for bandwidth continues to rise,” concluded Efrati.