Telecom Lead Africa: Alcatel-Lucent will design and implement a 600 km fiber-optic network in Ghana.
The fiber-optic network is aimed at offering data links between central government functions and remote and rural locations.
Alcatel-Lucent will also tie up with HP to provide a national data center facility to support the network.
“The NITA project demonstrates the clear value to our customers of a seamless solution for converged IT and telecommunications networking needs. Through our global alliance, Alcatel-Lucent and HP are able to deliver to our customers the broadest ICT portfolio available,” said Hakan Yuce, Worldwide VP of Global Strategic Alliances at Alcatel-Lucent.
The telecom equipment major has tied up with NITA (National Information Technology Agency) to manage network operations of Ghana’s e-government program for three years commencing November 2012.
The new network will link Ghana’s north and south as well as international submarine gateways via its eastern corridor.
Alcatel-Lucent’s 100 gigabit per second (100G)-capable optical coherent technology will enhance efficiencies between central and regional government offices and maintain quality and reliability across a telephone service, email and other Internet-based e-services.
“By delivering a new network and data center, Alcatel-Lucent will enable us to streamline government processes between central and rural divisions and provide a consistent external view. This is an important step toward realizing the vision of giving our people access to a range of critical services how and when they need them,” said William Tevie, director general of NITA.
“Alcatel-Lucent has a long history of providing communications solutions to meet customers’ e-business needs across the globe. Combined with our managed services expertise we are able to implement the best organization and processes to help continuously improve the services available to Ghana’s citizens,” said Daniel Jaeger, vice president of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa.