Saudi giants Future Entertainment Works (FEW) are to build one of the world"s largest and most technologically advanced IP converged networks in the world - alongside the city"s Grand Mosque.
FEW are to employ Nortel technology at the King Abdulaziz Endowment Proje
ct, a new 800,000 square metre urban development consisting of six towers, both for residential and retail use, and a five-star hotel. The ultra modern network will be fully IP-based and offer over 16 IP services including IPTV, Video on Demand, retail services, consumer information and advertisements.
Saudi Arabia"s Mecca is a holy city, known best for the annual pilgrimage called Hajj.
The network will consist of 65,000 ports, 400 switches and the initial deployment of around 18,000 IP phones. It will be able to take advantage of virtually any IP-based device.
The development is expected to be completed in 2007, with the network scheduled for an early-2006 completion.