Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert), telecom infrastructure and solutions provider for global service providers and enterprises, announced that PTCL, operator in Pakistan, will use VDSL2 bonding technology to offer existing digital subscriber line (DSL) customers speeds up to 50 Mbps.

PTCL will be able to offer speeds up to 50 Mbps over its copper network with VDSL2 bonding leveraging Alcatel-Lucent’s VDSL2 bonding expertise. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2011.

“PTCL is the first service provider worldwide to deploy a commercial VDSL2 bonding solution that aims at doubling the bandwidths provided to its existing customers,” said Walid Irshaid, president and CEO, PTCL, in a statement. “We are thus setting the trend in international telecoms, and are taking the broadband experience in Pakistan to the next level.”

Alcatel-Lucent’s VDSL2 bonding technology, services and network integration expertise will assist PTCL to meet the increasing bandwidth need of its customers. At the same time, PTCL will be able to capitalize on the existing copper infrastructure. This will enable PTCL to deliver high-speed business and residential services.

“We understand that service providers need the right tools to bridge the gap until fiber deployments have become ubiquitous,” said Adolfo Hernandez (News - Alert), president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“VDSL2 bonding is an ideal approach: service providers like PTCL can almost double the speeds supported by their DSL infrastructure or expand their network’s reach. This makes it a fast and cost-effective approach to bridging the digital divide,” Hernandez added.

Alcatel-Lucent will offer its Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) IP access platform.  The company will also supply bonding-ready customer premises equipment (CPE). Alcatel-Lucent serves as the project’s master network integrator. It will provide professional services including project management, installation and commissioning, integration and technical support.

Recently, a Multimedia Research Group study confirmed Alcatel-Lucent’s global leadership in IPTV (News - Alert) Access. According to the MRG report, Alcatel-Lucent has been leading the IPTV Access segment since 2007.