Port Ghalib is expanding quickly and is expected to be the size of a small city by 2015. The first phase of the air-blown fiber solution has provided 500 apartments with fast broadband.

Christer Björn, head of Ericsson’s broadband development in North Africa, says Ribbonet – as Ericsson’s air-blown fiber technology is called – has several advantages, especially a reduced risk of damaging the fiber. “First you install the pipes, or more correctly the ducts, and then blow the fiber through the duct from point to point,” Björn says. “The process means you do not have to worry about the fiber breaking or other complications from construction work, for example.”

The equipment introduced by Ericsson Network Technologies at Port Ghalib also includes the large Fiber Node, a pre-assembled solution based on the well-known EDA 1200 point-to-point access node (EFN324) and including ODFs and fiber cable management. The large fiber node is part of Ericsson’s end-to-end solution, which is characterized by a uniform, standardized construction process.

“The large fiber node is easy to install. Large sections of the cable assemblies are prefabricated and installation time is shorter than usual. This means the customer can begin selling services sooner,” Björn says.

“It makes us very proud that this is the world premiere of the large fiber node solution based on EDA 1200 and that end users now have access to 100Mbps.”

The Deep Fiber Access solution in Port Ghalib has the following features

• Total solution: Integrated triple-play solution that manages internet, VoIP and IPTV.
• First phase: Broadband access for 500 apartments, offices, restaurants, shops and the marina.
• Infrastructure: Based on Ribbonet, Ericsson’s air-blown fiber technology.
• EDA 1200 point-to-point fiber access solution.
• Telephony: Services handled by MX-One Telephony Switch.