DNSBOX 4 3G: Et-is-alat better!
ApplianSys is pleased to announce that Etisalat – a leading provider of internet and mobile services across Asia, the Middle East and Africa – has chosen a DNSBOX solution to provide more reliable DNS services for its growing 3G network in Afghanistan.
When Etisalat first launched its telecommunication services in Afghanistan over a decade ago, it deployed Google’s Public DNS service to resolve customers’ DNS queries.
However, as the operator quickly grew to be the country’s largest, Etisalat’s Manager Rafi Jami was concerned about maintaining a high quality of service. With DNS requests sent across the internet to remote Google servers, there was unwanted latency. This meant the internet connection felt slow for customers.
Recognising that the network had outgrown Google’s solution and that continuing to use it would be a barrier to future growth, Rafi decided to bring in a dedicated recursive DNS solution.
Carefully comparing solutions from two vendors – ApplianSys and Infoblox – he was impressed by the value offered by ApplianSys’ DNSBOX. For the same functionality DNSBOX was just a fraction of the cost. In addition, the solution offered far more flexibility, allowing the operator to choose a dedicated solution for its exact requirement.
A DNSBOX300 master appliance was deployed at Etisalat’s core site, along with eight DNSBOX200 recursive DNS slaves across five other sites. These are dedicated to resolving customer queries.
“In contrast with Infoblox servers, DNSBOX200 slaves are modular in design. They can be licensed for any or all of three services – authoritative DNS, recursive DNS and DHCP. In Etisalat’s case, the main requirement is recursive DNS and that’s all they pay for, making DNSBOX a truly affordable solution,” says ApplianSys DNSBOX Consultant Harminder Heer.
About Etisalat
Founded in 1976, Etisalat is a multinational Emirati-based telecommunications service provider. Operating in 16 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Etisalat is the 14th largest mobile network operator in the world, with a customer base of over 167 million.
Operations in Afghanistan include 2G/3G/4G data and voice services, as well as internet services for around 500 ISP and corporate customers. Today, around 1million customers subscribe to its 3G network.