How do you win a nationwide telecom tender against the biggest global vendors – and keep the contract for more than a decade? By delivering microwave links so reliable that they become the backbone of the entire country’s connectivity. This is the story of RAy and CETIN.
https//www.racom.eu/eng/case/cetin-leverages-ray-technology
Challenge: A Future-Proof Solution for the Largest Network in Czechia
When O2 Czech Republic – formerly Telefónica O2 – looked for a high-capacity, scalable microwave platform, the requirements were substantial. The initial tender demanded:
- More than 700 microwave links across 10, 17 and 24 GHz
- Seamless integration with one of Central Europe’s most advanced networks
- High reliability for national mobile and fixed-line backhaul
- Competitive pricing without compromising performance
- A solution suitable for long-term evolution and future bandwidth growth
After restructuring, all infrastructure passed to CETIN – today the operator of the largest telecom network in Czechia, providing coverage to 99.6% of the population.
Their network includes:
- Nearly 6,000 base stations for LTE and 5G
- A nationwide backbone built on SDH, WDM, Ethernet and IP
- Critical backhaul for O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and global operators such as Verizon and AT&T
CETIN needed microwave links that were exceptionally stable, flexible and ready for future expansion.
Solution: RAy Excels in a Highly Competitive Tender
RACOM’s RAy competed against several world-renowned vendors. After rigorous testing, RAy proved superior in:
- Sensitivity and interference resistance
- Long-term stability and extremely low failure rates
- Advanced diagnostics enabling proactive maintenance
- Flexible user interfaces – optical and metallic
- Support for jumbo frames and IPTV-optimised modem modes
- Wide DC power range for simplified deployment
RAy links were then deployed extensively for:
- Last-mile corporate connectivity
- Backhaul for DSLAM nodes providing ADSL and VDSL services
- Redundant and high-capacity routes in CETIN’s backbone
Results: A Long-Term Partnership Built on Trust and Performance
The success of the first contract led to:
- Contract extension in 2017
- An indefinite agreement in 2020
- More than 5,200 RAy links in daily operation across Czechia
In 2024, CETIN adopted RAy3-80 GHz, enabling 10 Gbps capacities with significant spectrum headroom. These 80 GHz links are now being deployed for major network expansions, strengthening CETIN’s position at the forefront of high-capacity national connectivity.
RAy is not only a winner of a major telecom tender – it has become the backbone of one of Central Europe’s most advanced digital networks.
