Nokia and Earthlink to build high-speed IP metro network in Iraq

As part of the Iraqi National Backbone project, Nokia announced that Earthlink Telecommunication, a leading Iraqi Internet Service Provider (ISP), will use the Nokia solution to establish a high-capacity IP metro transport network in 15 provinces across the country.

As part of the program, Nokia will install 60 additional nodes, one in each exchange. Earthlink will be able to bring high-speed broadband to 3.5 million people at a low cost by the end of the year, allowing the country to surge ahead in the burgeoning digital economy. Fiber-to-the-X (FTTx), Internet of Things (IoT), and IPTV, among other services, will be available as a result of the deployment.

Dr Alaa Mousa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Earthlink, said: “We are excited to be working with Nokia for the crucial project of setting up future-ready agile and resilient IP Metro network for the National Backbone that will empower Iraqis to benefit from high-speed broadband for overall economic and social growth. We are committed to working with the Government to provide a robust and resilient network that will play a critical role in Iraq’s growth as a technology leader.” 

Mohamed Faisal, Head of the Iraq Customer Business Team at Nokia, said: “As the digital ecosystem becomes all-pervasive, new applications stemming from 5G, IoT and Industry 4.0 place new demands on the networks. The new-age networks are required to handle hundreds of new applications and services for millions of users. Our field-proven 7750 SR and 7250 IXR routers are designed to deliver massive scale while ensuring extreme availability and superior quality. We are thrilled to work with Earthlink to build the Iraqi National Backbone to address the growing demand for high-speed broadband.”

As and when needed, the new 100G network capacity may be readily extended to 400G. Nokia’s solution, which includes the FP4-based Nokia 7750 Service Routers (SR-s) and 7250 Interconnect Router (IXR), is designed for 99.9% uptime and delivers predictable performance and QoS required for advanced IP services. Earthlink will be able to automate its network with Nokia’s Network Services Platform (NSP), resulting in easier management, lower costs, and increased network responsiveness and resiliency. Nokia will also supply I&C and professional services to ensure that the project runs smoothly and on time.

Earthlink will be able to minimize its reaction time and ensure timely delivery of additional traffic capacity and coverage and best-in-class service quality after the project is completed.