Nokia has been selected by illwerke vkw AG (a leading energy utility and telecommunications service provider in Vorarlberg, Austria) to deploy a state-of-the-art optical transport network.
This deployment, anticipated to be completed by late 2024, will equip illwerke vkw AG with a modernized, resilient optical infrastructure capable of supporting 400G wavelengths and beyond.
illwerke vkw AG, known for its commitment to renewable energy, serves approximately 200,000 customers in Vorarlberg and provides telecom services to mobile network operators (MNOs). In response to the surging demand for network capacity, the company is upgrading its current infrastructure to a more scalable and efficient system. The new network will utilize Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology and Nokia’s high-performance Photonic Service Engine (PSE). This combination will enhance network performance, increase scalability, and ensure sustainable growth.
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Managing Wavelengths at the Photonic Layer
The optical network, spanning 15 sites across Vorarlberg, will offer 10G, 25G, and 100G mobile backhaul and fronthaul transport services, connecting MNO cell sites and central offices. illwerke vkw AG plans to extend these optical transport services to other regional business customers.
Central to this upgrade is Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), which enables the efficient management of wavelengths at the photonic layer. The network will feature Optical Channel Protection for enhanced service resiliency and support all fronthaul protocols, ensuring compatibility with multi-generation radios (3G/4G/5G). This includes high-performance synchronization distribution for backhaul and fronthaul services, adhering to stringent ITU-T G.8273.2 Class B and C timing requirements—a result of integrating the 1830 PSS and 1830 Time-sensitive Packet Switch (TPS).
Nokia’s WaveSuite Network Operations Center (WS-NOC) will further bolster the network by providing unified, end-to-end optical management, including service provisioning and assurance.
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Christoph Märk, Head of IT at illwerke vkw AG, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Nokia to advance our network infrastructure. This new optical network will empower us to meet the growing demand for capacity while delivering top-tier telecom services to mobile providers and business customers in Vorarlberg.”
Matthieu Bourguignon, Senior Vice President and Head of Europe for Network Infrastructure at Nokia, highlighted the significance of the collaboration: “As a leading energy service provider in Austria, illwerke vkw AG distinguishes itself by leveraging renewable energy while extending its expertise to offer telecom services to MNOs. Like many in the energy and telecom sectors, they are facing an ever-increasing demand for capacity, necessitating substantial network modernization. Nokia’s resilient optical transport network, capable of supporting 400G wavelengths and beyond, is designed to meet the current and future needs of illwerke vkw AG’s customers.”
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