UPC Cablecom to provide 4G backhaul for Orange

Liberty Global-owned Swiss cable operator UPC Cablecom has struck a deal with Orange to provide 4G backhaul services.

Over the next two years, UPC Cablecom’s business division will connect over 1,000 4G mobile phone masts with bandwidth of between 1-10Gbps. UPC Cablecom’s own mobile customers, whose services are delivered over Orange’s networks, will also be able to benefit.

The first 70 masts will be connected this year. All masts will be connected using UPC Cablecom’s new MEF 2.0-compliant Carrier Ethernet platform.

“This contract is the biggest so far for our business customer segment and is a sign of confidence,” said Marco Quinter, managing director business services at UPC Cablecom.

“We wanted a real Layer 2 Ethernet service with an end-to-end quality guarantee and monitoring of our national sites including VLAN flexibility. We are pleased to have found the best solution for this in UPC Cablecom business,” said Johan Hall, chief technology officer, Orange.