“Through ECI’s 1Net framework, focused on optimized transition to more competitive networks, we are addressing the challenges and needs affecting providers today and in the future.  By partnering with us, our customers – service providers, networks and cable operators, government & defense entities, utility carriers and carrier-of carriers, and even municipalities – all benefit from long-standing innovation and leadership in the telecom sector”, said Mr. Oren Barkai, Senior Product Manager & Solutions Team Leader, of Integrated Solutions LoB Network Solutions Division of ECI Telecom LTD, in an exclusive interview that he gave to Epicos.

1.    Could you please describe the place of ECI Telecom in the national and international market?

Beyond the traditional role of a telecom vendor, ECI Telecom has become the partner for growth to our customers worldwide.  Through ECI’s 1Net framework, focused on optimized transition to more competitive networks, we are addressing the challenges and needs affecting providers today and in the future.  By partnering with us, our customers – service providers, networks and cable operators, government & defense entities, utility carriers and carrier-of carriers, and even municipalities – all benefit from long-standing innovation and leadership in the telecom sector. ECI's platforms enable key revenue-generating applications, such as business services, voice, video and wireless backhaul.  Our service expertise facilitates service deployment, maintenance and on-going operations, while optimizing capex and reducing opex.

ECI Telecom Israel has implemented a cutting edge Advanced Military Communication E2E Solution for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that is being used most effectively for its ongoing operations.
The network encapsulates a layered approach that enables the provisioning of core Network Centric Warfare (NCW) applications together with operational, logistical and administrative communication services. It is based on COTS (Commercially of the Shelf) equipment, modified to support stringent requirements of Critical Mission applications.

Defense and Homeland forces in many countries are considering establishing their own stationary strategic network or have already made substantial investments in infrastructure to provide Defence applications. ECI Telecom’s approach to establish such network is evolutional concept and enables a gradual migration from legacy network to the state-of-the-art IP-MPLS based network in a seamless manner, supported by a common OSS to manage all the network layers.

ECI Telecom has already operationalized such networks at other Defence customer in the world.

2.    What ECI Telecom offers to its customers?

ECI Telecom and its partners are offering best of breed, secure, reliable products that enable the military, police and Homeland security establishment to effectively implement a network centric approach to warfare and defense issues. The Armed Forces and Homeland Security Forces are facing many major challenges in changing their approach and it is in the process of adapting the same technological and communication advances that have changed the world of business and industry. ECI is in a unique position to help this process because it is a major provider to industry and has had a close collaboration with the IDF and other defense forces for many years. ECI has had extensive experience in selecting and integrating the most efficient and cost-effective solutions that have been combat tested. Always on the cutting edge of technology, ECI and its partners are able to provide flexible, scalable solutions to help the Military and the Homeland Security Forces achieves its goal of “one target – one bomb”.

ECI supports every stage of evolution with the most appropriate technology and that enables smooth migration towards full network centricity. This involves support at all stages of implementation to enable:

•     Future ready
•     High availability
•     Legacy support
•     Flexibility
•     Manageability
•     Smooth migration for legacy to next generation IP

ECI offers the technical expertise and the situational understanding along with the best solutions that the market can offer to support military demands and requirements.

3.    Are there any specific markets, apart from Israel, that ECI Telecom is currently activated?

We are a global company with more than 35 offices. We are present in all continents (apart from Australia)

4.    Could you please describe the main products that ECI Telecom is producing? What are the main characteristics of them?

ECI has several lines of business:

MSPP (Multi Service Provisioning Platforms) – multiplexers of transport technologies (PDH, SDH, Ethernet and ATM).
Optics – optical transport platform for short, medium and long haul.
CESR (Carrier Ethernet Switch Routers) – Carrier class solutions for Ethernet transport.
Management and planning tools to match the capabilities said above.
Integrated Solutions – integrating 3rd party S/W and H/W to create with ECI's own solution a more fitting solution to customer's needs.

And finally, encryption and information security

5.    What are the main technological advantages of ECI Telecom?

ECI's main technological advantage is that it's solution are battle proven even though they are COTS (Commodity Of The Shelf)

6.    What are the next steps and priorities of the company?

The company is looking to expand its customer base and also move into homeland security. In HLS the company is developing its offering and has started to work with several key customers.

7.    1Net is a unique feature that the company offers to its customers. Could you please describe the concept behind this idea?

 

1Net is not a feature but a framework of how to transform in business as well as technological terms the network. The network is undergoing heavy changes in all vertical, including the defense forces. It's impact increases dramatically and therefore a transformation strategy is required. That is where 1NET comes in.

8.    Is the company currently investing in a new technology?

The company is investing in several technologies such as:
-Microwave communication technology
-Special algorithms for network design and simulation
-Optical technologies of 100G and above

9.    Why should someone choose ECI Telecom to do business?

There are several reasons. We are not shackled to our own portfolio. We know how to offer best of breed and have done so successfully and reputedly. Additionally, we understand how defense forces networks should be and these are not enterprise class (the way some of our rivals position it). Furthermore, our team and solutions are battle proven and know what it takes to transform those networks. Finally, we customize our solutions to fit unique needs of every customer and we have developed special platforms for our customer, something the competition has never done.

10.    Could you make a comment about the international Aerospace and Defense Industry and its orientations?

The defense industry has been growing by about 4% annually (based on SIPRY evaluation 2009). The communication part of the defense budget has been growing even more. In every project which is not a platform (tank, airplane) there is a need of communication. ECI focuses on the strategic part, which is sometimes overlooked. All the C2 applications require bandwidth that is what we aim to provide. We believe that the industry will continue to grow and shift towards HLS.