A regional fibre operator expanded its DWDM backbone capacity by 400% using certified Ciena optical transport equipment, completing the upgrade in half the time of a new-build alternative.
The Challenge
Explosive demand for enterprise connectivity and 5G backhaul across the MENA region pushed this fibre operator to its capacity limits. The existing 10G DWDM backbone needed an immediate upgrade to 100G+ wavelengths, but new Ciena equipment had an 18-week factory lead time that would miss critical enterprise SLA commitments.
The NetZero.tel Solution
NetZero.tel identified certified Ciena 6500 series optical transport platforms from two carriers in North America and Western Europe that were migrating to newer architectures. Our technical team verified hardware revisions, software compatibility, and optical amplifier specifications against the buyer's existing network design. The equipment was delivered in two phased shipments with full integration support documentation.
The Outcome
The backbone upgrade was completed 10 weeks ahead of the new-build alternative timeline, enabling the operator to onboard 14 new enterprise customers and secure three 5G backhaul contracts. The total project cost came in at 62% below new-equipment pricing, with the savings funding additional last-mile fibre deployment across two new cities.
"Speed was everything for us. Our enterprise customers were ready to sign but we needed the capacity first. NetZero.tel delivered certified Ciena optical gear in 8 weeks when the factory quoted 18. That speed directly translated into revenue."
— Head of Network Planning, MENA Fibre Operator