Nokia, Global Fiber Peru deploy triple-border Amazon network

Nokia and Global Fiber Peru deployed an underwater optical network through rivers in the Amazon linking municipalities in three countries.

The new underwater network interconnects 500,000 users across 400 communities located in an area known as the three-border region, where Peru, Colombia and Brazil share borders, Nokia said in a release.

The backbone connects the localities of Iquitos and Santa Rosa de Yaraví (Peru), Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil). According to Nokia, the backbone will allow Global Fiber Peru to offer FTTH broadband service in the region, as well as multi-gigabit services for enterprise users.

Founded in 2015 as a subsidiary of Satelital Group, Global Fiber Peru operates a fiber network with coverage throughout the country, with special focus on the 180 provincial capitals.

Global Fiber's network also has submarine exits through cables landing in Lurín, out to Chile and Panamá.

“We're excited and proud to be the first company to have successfully deployed an optical fiber network in the depths of the Amazon River, connecting three countries,” said Global Fiber CEO Obed Dionisio.

NORTE CONECTADO

The companies' project is similar to a separate initiative championed by the Brazilian government with private resources coming mostly from the 5G auction. 

The Norte Conectado program foresees the deployment of up to eight fiber backbone routes (Infovias) across Amazon basin rivers for the shared use of internet service providers and telecom operators through consortia. To date, three Infovias have been deployed.

The announcement by Nokia and Global Fiber Peru also anticipates plans by the governments of Brazil and Colombia to extend Norte Conectado into Colombia, to the city of Leticia. 

There is no relationship, however, between the projects. 

Neither the length of the Global Fiber Peru cable nor investments in the deployment were detailed. The roll-out was carried out with FYCO, a local partner specialized in fiber networks in Latin America. 

Nokia and FYCO are also providing training, professional services and maintenance services.

The Finnish company said it has supplied a solution that includes its 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), 7750 service routers, 7250 interconnect routers, 7210 services access systems (SAS), network service platform (NSP), FX 8 and FX 16 optical line terminals, fiber optical network terminals and Nokia Beacon 1 devices that help ensure "a premium Wi-Fi experience within the customer premises."

The deal also includes upgrading the customer’s existing fiber networks in Lima, Cusco and Huancayo, said Nokia.