TIM announced its agreement with Cisco Systems to renew its OPM infrastructure in Italy as part of the strategy for accelerating network transformation.

TIM earlier announced its plans to make an investment of roughly 5 billion euros to speed up the implementation of national ultra-broadband for expanding the fiber and 4G coverage during 2017-2019.

As a result of the 3-year investment plan, TIM, a leading telecom operator in Iraly, aims to extend ultra-broadband coverage to 99 percent of fixed-network homes by the end of 2019 and over 99 percent of the population with 4G.

As per the deal with the top networking company, TIM will use Cisco ASR 9000 technology for the modernization of TIM’s Optical Packet Metro network, which collects and aggregates accesses to fixed, mobile and company lines. The deal will assist TIM to boost its speed and efficiency to support video and data traffic by integrating technologies that also facilitate the adoption of 5G in coming years.

TIM and Cisco said the project, which will transform TIM’s Optical Packet Metro (OPM) network represents, an important step in the technological evolution of TIM’s IP network, because it deploys new automation mechanisms and Software Defined Network technology to enable operational efficiency.

TIM’s OPM network will integrate Cisco’s ASR 9000 (Cisco Aggregation Services Router) technology, the latest generation platform that offers high speeds plus service completeness and efficiency to support the demand generated by video and data traffic peaks across all networks.

TIM said the purpose of the Cisco deal is to enhance the digitization of its fixed and mobile line services for the consumer, business and wholesale sectors.

In addition, TIM will also be ensuring simplified and optimized operational models, quality IP traffic transport and adequate bandwidth via provision of 100 Gigabit IP connectivity to metropolitan areas – to support video traffic growth.