Beltelecom: Creating a National Broadband Strategy in Belarus

The Largest Fixed-line Operator in Belarus

Beltelecom is the largest state-owned communications enterprise in Belarus and has a monopoly on fixed-line and data transmission services throughout the country.

As well as being the number one fixed-line operator and leading ISP in Belarus (through its subsidiary, Belpak), Beltelecom also has a stake in the top three mobile operators in the country.

Beltelecom has built extensive communications networks across Belarus, and its backbone fiber-optic lines have egresses to neighboring countries. Beltelecom provides international toll, terrestrial network, TV, and broadcast services. It operates a satellite ground station known as the “information port” through an international satellite channel.

Beltelecom owns public data transmission networks and Internet resources that provide almost all ways of accessing international digital information. Mobile operators in Belarus can connect international space stations to offer international roaming. Beltelecom is the main international pipe supplier in Belarus and plays a crucial role in its Internet service market.

National IPTV Strategy

Traditional DSL access has not been sufficient to meet the ever-increasing bandwidth demand in Belarus, and Beltelecom has been developing Belarus’s national IPTV strategy. In 2010, Beltelecom initiated a national broadband network (NBN) that will meet user requirements long into the future.

Beltelecom chose to use GPON to meet its increased bandwidth needs, and FTTH was chosen as the construction mode. With a fast, integrated FTTH network, Beltelecom can provide their customers with quality services.

The advanced FTTH solution has significant advantages, and the scale of the investment will be large. Major concerns for Beltelecom are how to protect its investment, reduce energy consumption, cut OPEX, and boost profitability.

Building a Future-Proof FTTH Network

In September 2010, Beltelecom and ZTE began discussions on selecting an appropriate FTTH construction mode. After rounds of technical evaluations and comparing business models, Beltelecom and ZTE determined that a GPON-based FTTH solution was the best fit.

Future-proof optical access construction mode

An array of ONTs, including F601, F820,   F620 and F660 will be used to satisfy high bandwidth requirements of different applications. The GPON-based NBN will provide a variety of quality services, including high-speed Internet, IPTV, and dedicated lines. In addition, it will meet the ever-increasing service and bandwidth requirements of users well into the future. 

Smooth evolution to NG-PON

Existing GPON is inevitably incapable of handling growing broadband requirements. How can this pressing issue be addressed? The ONT uplink module has to be pluggable so that Beltelecom can upgrade the existing GPON to NG-PON simply by replacing the uplink module. This upgrade will deliver higher bandwidth, better QoS, and more networking options and will protect Beltelecom’s initial investments. 

Low OPEX

In FTTH, a large number of ONTs are deployed in user homes, and all user-side devices are passive. This greatly reduces OPEX. Terminals are managed by TR069 in a unified manner. This helps create a true plug-and-play environment and significantly reduces OPEX.

The innovative, energy-saving design of ZTE’s OLT reduces power consumption of each PON port by 42% so that power consumption conforms to the EU standard and the required power supply is significantly reduced. Statistics show that a broadband access network using this technology saves 50% on system-side power consumption per day. This greatly reduces Beltelecom’s electricity costs.

Reduced power supply requirements in the FTTH network, allow for faster network construction and rollout and quicker profit. 

The large number of outdoor cabinets in a traditional network gives rise to a variety of issues, including radiation, heat dissipation, and noise. FTTH changes the way a network is operated and greatly reduces the OPEX on maintaining outdoor equipment.

ZTE’s innovative cabinet designs allow Beltelecom to offer users diverse broadband services and boosts Beltelecom’s image as responsible corporate citizen that fulfils its environmental obligations.

Consolidating Market Leadership Through FTTH

After cooperating with ZTE on GPON and NG-PON for a long time, Beltelecom proposed the FTTH construction mode for the first time and conducted evaluation and testing. It calculated the TCO for different construction models. Beltelecom and ZTE jointly introduced a new configuration management model for GPON technology. The FTTH deployment will have a bandwidth capacity of more than 100Mbps and will establish Beltelecom as the leader in the Belarusian broadband market. Beltelecom strives to offer high-quality telecommunication services to its customers.