For the first time in the southern African country of Namibia, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) will be offered, courtesy of Telecom Namibia.
This service not only provides international customers with extensive local access to networks in Namibia, it extends coverage across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Previously, under the Infinitum Plus package, Telecom Namibia offered IP/MPLS VPN carrier services, primarily targeting customers needing support for their business enterprises, along with large business organizations in 10 major population hubs. The new service will now build off this to extend connectivity internationally.
Hong Kong based PCCW Global, the international operations division of Hong Kong Telephony, struck an agreement with Telecom Namibia to provide the support needed to extend the current Ethernet and IP VPN services overseas and to regional customers via PCCW Global’s MPLS network. PCCW Global has previously worked with UK MPLS Providers in Europe.
This network currently services over 3,000 cities in more than 130 countries throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.
Telecom Namibia’s Head of International and Wholesale Services, Ernst Nischke said, “This co-operation is one of the important milestones to date in our quest to develop our international business, particularly with regard to international data services. The relationship with PCCW Global allows us to extend the coverage of our services from Namibia to the rest of the world, and we will in turn facilitate like access in Namibia to PCCW Global.”
James Welch, PCCW Global’s Vice President and Head of Sales said, “We are very pleased to work with Telecom Namibia and enhance our local coverage in one of the most important countries on Africa’s west coast. Our co-operation with Telecom Namibia, which is built on a long and fruitful relationship stretching back more than 10 years, will yield significant benefits for both companies, and will also open up new opportunities in the African market.”
PCCW Global announced in January that it planned to work with several service providers to help construct the Asia Africa Europe-1 (AAE-1) cable system, and to be the first high-capacity system linking all of Southeast Asia with Africa and Europe via the Middle East.
Telecom Namibia touts itself as a customer-centric service provider, delivering text, voice, data, and video solutions over the country’s largest telecommunications network. The collaboration with PCCW Global not only brings enhanced connectivity to Namibians, it brings Namibia closer to the world.
SADC hopes opening wider doors to the international community will help this region of Africa achieve economic growth, as well as alleviate poverty across the fifteen southern African nations it serves. The extended telecommunications network will help promote regional integration and sustainable development.
Currently, PCCW Global is an investor in the new West Africa Cable System, or WACS. This network links South Africa to the United Kingdom through 14 African countries and large economic centers along the western coastline of Africa.
As a carrier connected to WACS, Telecom Namibia will offer international MPLS interconnectivity through its agreement with PCCW Global.
Government-owned, Telecom Namibia is currently the sole provider of integrated telecommunications in Namibia. Its transmission network is completely digital, providing a varied portfolio of broadband, data, fixed-wireless, voice over fixed services, and mobile services with 3G and 4G LTE data.
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