France Telecom Boosts Links to Africa for Orange Broadband Services with FlexACM®

With limited spectrum available from the satellites covering the region, Orange has initiated a programme of infrastructure upgrades to improve quality of service and provide greater bandwidth to its customers. Installing Newtec Elevation EL470 and EL478 modems, Orange has migrated from DVB-S to DVB-S2 and reduced capital and operational costs while increasing bandwidth efficiency.

To further increase the bandwidth offered to customers, Orange is implementing Newtec's DVB-S2 FlexACM technology, allowing Orange to maximise the throughput of the existing satellite link at any time. FlexACM also allows Orange to make use of inclined-orbit satellite capacity while guaranteeing significant improvement of the Quality of Service (QoS). The additional throughput made possible by this new infrastructure means Orange can expand the reach of its services to other countries in Africa with fibre links previously dedicated to backup use.

"With this new infrastructure implementation, Orange can continue to increase the quality of service and extend the footprint of our operations in the region," says Alain Maloberti, VP Network Architecture and Design, Orange Group. "Newtec's Elevation and FlexACM provide a highly efficient and robust platform from which we can deliver state-of-the-art Internet access to our customers in Africa."

"France Telecom has taken a no-compromise approach to expanding Internet access in the region," says Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec. "Supplying high-speed Internet services to remote communities can pose quite a challenge, but with the most advanced technologies, including Newtec's FlexACM, these can be overcome, and the quality of service can match the best available elsewhere."

FlexACM is a unique end-to-end solution combining a range of cutting-edge technologies for implementing ACM technology, IP shaping, compression and acceleration in a very efficient way for IP trunking and IP backbone satellite links. The implementation of FlexACM can result in a doubling of the data throughput in a given satellite segment while also guaranteeing a 100 percent link availability. By using FlexACM, teleport operators no longer need to take rain or other margins into account. When the conditions of the link become worse because of rain fade or other interference, FlexACM automatically changes the parameters to avoid loss of signal reception. When satellites in inclined orbits are used, FlexACM allows teleport operators to increase significantly the data throughput during periods when there is no service degradation due to the antenna gain reduction caused by the satellite drift.

About France Telecom/Orange

Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. With 131.8 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the group operates. At the end of 2009, France Telecom had consolidated sales of 50.9 billion euros, including its activities in the United Kingdom, and at 31 December 2009, the Group had a customer base of almost 193 million customers in 32 countries. These include 132.6 million mobile customers and 13.5 million broadband Internet (ADSL) customers worldwide. Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number two provider of broadband internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.
The group's strategy, which is characterized by a strong focus on innovation, convergence and effective cost management, aims to establish Orange as an integrated operator and benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. Today the group remains focused on its core activities as a network operator while working to develop its position in new growth activities. To meet customer expectations, the group strives to provide products and services that are simple and user-friendly while maintaining a sustainable and responsible business model that can be adapted to the requirements of a fast-paced and changing ecosystem.

About Newtec

Newtec is a global industry leader, shaping the future of satellite communications. Offering state-of-the-art products and scalable, integrated solutions for broadcast, broadband access and backbone and trunking applications, Newtec helps customers achieve greater efficiency, increase performance and expand market reach.
With its passionate commitment to R&D, Newtec remains at the forefront of technological development, continuing the pioneering contributions that have led to industry standards including DVB, DVB-S2, DVB RCS and iSatTV Cenelec pr EN50478.
Newtec's worldwide customer base includes the industry's most prestigious broadcasters, satellite operators, telcos, systems houses and broadcasting unions. Established in 1985 and headquartered in Belgium, Newtec has regional offices, as well as additional R&D centres, located in Stamford, Conn. (U.S.), Singapore (Singapore), Beijing (China), Dubai (UAE), São Paulo (Brazil), Berlin (Germany) and France.