WCA January 2014

18 / 72

Ultra-broadband for
Saudi Arabia
ALCATEL-Lucent and Zain KSA have completed an Agile
Optical Network to provide ultra-broadband access
throughout Saudi Arabia.
The fibre-optic backbone network is based on converged
wavelength division multiplexing/optical transport (WDM/
OTN) technology, enabling Zain to provide 100
gigabits-per-second (100G) capability throughout the
country’s main metros.
Zain and Alcatel-Lucent are also conducting a trial of 400
Gigabit-per-second (Gbps) data transmission over an
existing optical link carrying live network traffic in the major
western city of Jeddah. Alcatel-Lucent’s 400G optical
solution, based on the 400 Gbps Photonic Service Engine
(PSE) platform, supports the emergence of new
high-bandwidth, high-performance.
Key facts:
• Zain has made the nationwide deployment of fibre-based
mobile ultra-broadband access to support the increasing
network capacity demands of 4G LTE
• Alcatel-Lucent has provided its converged WDM/OTN
platform, the 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), to
address the booming demand for high-bandwidth data
services such as high-definition video streaming,
next-generation mobile broadband applications and
cloud services
• 100G fibre-optic technology takes advantage of unique
silicon innovations from Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs and
supports a capacity of up to 8.8 Terabit per second – the
equivalent of 1.32 million HDTV channels streamed at the
same time – over a single optical fibre
Zain and Alcatel-Lucent are conducting a 400G data
transmission trial in Jeddah, over an existing optical link
carrying live network.
Alcatel-Lucent – France
Website:
Solar connected to South African grid
Norwegian solar company Scatec Solar AS has energised a
75MW PV power plant in South Africa’s Northern Cape.
The $255 million Kalkbult power plant consists of 312,000
solar panels mounted on 156km of substructure, inverters,
transformers and an HV substation. The power generated by
the facility will be sold to national utility Eskom through a
20-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
Last year, Scatec was awarded contracts to build two other
PV power plants. It expects to complete the 75MW
Dreunberg power plant in the Northern Cape and the 40MW
Linde facility in the Eastern Cape in mid-2014.
Scatec Solar AS – Norway
Website:
16 Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2014
Industrynews