NEWS
OMAN
Huawei and Omantel
to Deploy Middle
East’s First G.fast
Huawei has announced it will jointly deploy the first G.fast network in
the Middle East working with Omantel, a leading operator in Oman.
Huawei’s E2E G.fast solution will support Omantel to construct
ultra-broadband networks more efficiently by reusing existing
copper lines.
Omantel, the first and leading integrated telecommunications
services provider in Oman, has abundant copper resources in its
existing network.
To meet growing subscriber demand for digital home services and
high-definition video Omantel aims to reconstruct its live networks
to achieve broadband acceleration.
By 2020, the company plans to cover 90% of home subscribers in
Muscat. In high-value areas it plans to provide 200 Mb/s to 1 Gb/s
for high density buildings to provide users with higher bandwidth.
Omantel is targeting a solution that provides faster access, faster
deployment, and yields a faster return on investment.
Huawei proposed the E2E G.fast solution that
employs optical line terminals (OLT), G.fast
distributed point units (DPU), and G.fast
customer-premises equipment (CPE) to help
Omantel meet its goals. Field tests show G.fast
can achieve 800 Mb/s and 400 Mb/s at loops of
100m and 300m, respectively.
This reflects much greater performance than
ADSL2+ and VDSL2. Omantel will deploy G.fast
in the basements of tall buildings, where
the existing copper infrastructure, such as
telephone lines, will be reused to deliver ultra-
broadband access.
This avoids the need for construction inside
houses, which may involve drilling holes and
open wiring, thus simplifying delivery, saving on
cost, and reducing customer complaints.
“We look forward to continuing the partnership
with Omantel through the commercial G.fast
deployment,” said Leo Hong, Huawei’s Oman CEO.
“Huawei’s investment and innovation in the
end-to-end large capacity G.fast solution will
significantly help Omantel accelerate the
rollout of ultrafast broadband and achieve
business success.”
Technology Behind Bank
Enhancement Programme
Technology is at the heart of an enhancement programme launched by the
Oman Arab Bank (OAB).
OAB recently took the number of its branches in its network to 66 and its latest,
the Al Hail branch, comes readily equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Following in the footsteps of the recently launched Nizwa Branch, the ‘new
look’ Al Hail branch possesses a modern design philosophy, and extends its
reach by delivering an enhanced banking experience for its growing customer
base in the Muscat region.
The sleek, modern, and streamlined look is further augmented by a similar
array of new customer friendly features and systems introduced for the first
time in the Nizwa branch.
These include the new advanced meet and greet facilities with streamlined
queuing, video walls for bank news, private advisory spaces with moving
monitor screens for more personal interaction, together with digital signature
pads and ID Card readers built within the advisory station area.
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INTELLIGENTCIO
Each of these advanced features
has been designed to facilitate a
more paperless operation within the
branch environment.
The new Al Hail branch also features
a separate ‘Elite’ reception area, two
lounges and dedicated Elite Relationship
Managers; ensuring premium customers
can enjoy an elegant and private
banking experience.
www.intelligentcio.com