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ACASIA
WeSolv installs PLDT's ATM core-edge network for ACASIA
Dominant carrier, Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT) and five major ASEAN international telecom operators, in a consortium called ACASIA, have put up a new regional ATM core-edge backbone network that meet the growing demand of their customers in the region for higher speed data communications.
Called ACASIA2, the first of its kind in ASEAN, the new network has capabilities similar to PLDT's new and fully operational PLDT Brains domestic IP+ATM network. PLDT Brains was implemented by Fujitsu Philippines, Inc. and its wholly owned networking and communications subsidiary, WeSolv Open Computing. The new network will offer broadband ATM services as well as Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN) services.
The entire ACASIA2 network is built from Cisco Systems' BPX 8600 Wide Area ATM switches and Cisco MGX8850 edge concentrators. These advanced platforms reside in key cities of six countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, and the Philippines. They are interconnected by high-speed undersea fiber optic cable facilities with redundant links for high capacity and very high reliability. Utilizing Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology, ACASIA2 is a true multi-service network capable of handling data, voice, and video.
Through the ACASIA2 network, PLDT can be a one-stop shop for companies in the Philippines that have networking needs in the other parts of the ASEAN region. ACASIA's service offering includes Global Frame Relay, Private Line (leased lines), VSAT, Telehousing/Facilities Management, and Infrastructure and Network Centers.
ACASIA is a business unit of ASEAN Telecom Holdings, a holding company of the ASEAN telecommunications alliance. The alliance is a strategic association with the aim of serving the region's telecommunications needs. The members of this consortium are PLDT, Singapore Telecom Ltd., Telekom Malaysia, The Communications Authority of Thailand, PT Indosat, and Jaban Telekom Brunei. ACASIA and its partners (which include PLDT) selected Cisco equipment and the services of FPI for all the required network equipment plus design, engineering, and installation services. WeSolv performed the actual services for PLDT. The equipment was installed in one of PLDT's central office exchanges in Manila.
Carlos S. Angeles III of PLDT, a member of ACASIA's Technical Committee that evaluated proposals from different vendors for its ATM Core-Edge Network, said: "We chose Fujitsu/WeSolv's services for the ACASIA2 project because of their experience in implementing PLDT's domestic ATM/FR network, which they completed for us in record time."
The capabilities of ACASIA2 were previewed on June 6, 2000 at CommunicAsia 2000 in Singapore, one of Asia's most prestigious telecom exhibition and conference events. At the time of the launch, the SingTel-PLDT portion of the network was already operational. Exhibition attendees were able to make clear-sounding telephone calls to and from ACASIA's exhibition booth in Singapore and PLDT's Makati office using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology.
The ability of the network to carry video was also demonstrated, where exhibition attendees in Singapore were able to select for viewing any of four full-length feature films from a video server located in Manila. The network will be launched into full commercial operation on September 7, 2000 in Bangkok, Thailand, in time for a grand exhibition.
