Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunication network solutions for operators around the world, and Zain Nigeria, a subsidiary of Zain group, have announced the successful deployment of a next-generation blade mobile softswitch in Nigeria. Huawei ATCA based next-generation blade mobile softswitch is able to serve 8 million customers in Nigeria and has capacity to help Zain to lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), improve the operation capability based on All-IP network, advanced MSC Pool technology, and provide high-quality service experience. Huawei blade mobile softswitch solution addresses the challenges operators face by helping them to construct high-performance, high-reliability and cost-efficiency mobile core networks.

The deployment in Nigeria represents a major milestone for Zain as it meets the requirement from fast growing customers and effectively control the TCO. The project can help operator reduce the 60 percent of equipment room and save about 65 percent power consumption.  Focused on "customer experience-centered" management, the solution can provide real-time monitoring, fault location and automatic recovery features to help Zain to build the capability in intelligent All-IP operation.

In addition, based on the MSC Pool networking architecture, Zain can quickly achieve network resource sharing, guarantees the services continuity, and improve the system’s reliability achieved up to 99.9 percent. In the future, the network can evolve to IMS network smoothly, which lower operator’s CAPEX （Capital Expenditure） significantly.

“Zain is always committed to providing world-class experience for its growing customer base by continuously adopting leading network technology. Huawei’s new generation blade mobile softswitch solution meets our requirement on ALL-IP network operation. The excellent solution will help us advance network efficiency, reduce operation cost, and provide better services to the rapidly growing customer base” said Alain Sainte-Marie CEO of Zain Nigeria.

“Since it was launched, Huawei new generation blade mobile softswitch solution is very popular with the top operators and has accessed the European and Asia Pacific markets. We are glad to provide advanced telecom products and technology for Zain Nigeria and this is the first time for application of the solution in West Africa market,” said Jin Huang, Vice President of Huawei core network product line.

According to Huang, “the co-operation will help Zain Nigeria in realising the ALL-IP transformation and forming the capability in software-based network deployment, smart network O&M, network resource sharing.”

Huawei blade mobile softswitch provides a maximum capacity of 12 million subscribers, significantly improves network efficiency, lowers TCO, and offers 99.9 percent reliability. This solution also supports the smooth evolution to IMS for securing operator’s current capital investment.